Surcharge on electricity bills could be coming

March 8, 2011

SPRINGFIELD – Utility providers in Illinois want to tack an extra $3 to $5 on most customer’s monthly electricity bills. That increase would be used to upgrade the providers' grids, according to representatives from ComEd and Ameren, the state’s two largest electricity companies.

 

ComEd’s 3.7 million customers would see an extra $3 every month on top of any other normal increases under House Bill 14. The surcharge comes after savings the new grid would generate, according to Anne Pramaggiore, president of ComEd. For Ameren customers, the surcharge would be $5, but that was calculated without taking into account potential savings, according to Craig Nelson, senior vice president of regulatory affairs and financial services for Ameren (CLICK HERE for Ameren's full testimony.)

 
In total, both companies would invest more than $3.6 billion over the next 10 years into system upgrades. That would save the consumer money and make delivery of electricity more reliable, the companies said. 
 
Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office is opposed to the legislation, sponsored by state Rep. Kevin McCarthy, D-Orland Park. Her office says a provision in the plan that changes how rate increases are handled takes away power from the Illinois Commerce Commission and would leave customers exposed to annual increases.
 
Check back at Illinoisstatehousenews.com later for the full story.

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