In response to anticipated rate hikes on Illinois residents, Senate Republican members of the Energy and Public Utilities Committee are calling for immediate legislative action to help offset future energy price increases.
According to Ameren Illinois, rates are expected to increase from an average of $37.62 to $45.98 per month for Ameren customers for the four-month summer season as a result of the most recent MISO grid auction. Meanwhile, ComEd customers are expected to see their average monthly bill go up from $108 per month to $118.60 per month due to the latest PJM grid auction.
With the expected rate increases, the Senate Republicans on the Committee are calling on Democrat lawmakers to take swift action on a legislative package aimed at addressing Illinois’ ongoing energy concerns.
“Illinois families are already struggling to keep up with rising costs across the board, and now they’re being asked to pay even more just to keep their lights and air conditioning on,” said State Senator Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro), who is the Minority Spokesperson of the Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee. “We need to stop pretending these rate hikes are just a coincidence. The policies coming out of Springfield are directly driving up energy prices, and we need to enact legislation right now that will provide our state with a path to stabilize our grid, lower prices, and prioritize reliability.”
The package is comprised of three bills. The first bill, Senate Bill 1234, creates the Illinois Regional Generation Reliability Task Force Act to study the effect of state laws, including CEJA, on energy prices as well as grid reliability.
“For the state to have reliable power sources and to avoid future rate hike increases, our state must perform a comprehensive study of its energy grid and future capacity,” said State Senator Erica Harriss (R-Glen Carbon). “There is no reason any lawmaker should oppose reasonable legislation to protect our energy future.”
The package also includes a bill, Senate Bill 1235, which would repeal the forced 2045 closure date for coal and natural gas power plants that was implemented under Governor Pritzker’s Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) of 2021. This legislation would also allow companies to build new gas peaker plants to help supplement the state’s energy needs without the fear of forced closures.
“CEJA’s misguided decision to close traditional power plants is having very real consequences on the people of our state,” said State Senator Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg). “The demands of our state’s energy grid cannot be met through renewable energy alone. We need consistent, reliable baseload energy, which coal and gas power plants have provided to the state for decades. This legislation could help lower consumer costs and help keep Illinois’ energy mix one of the best in the nation.”
The final part of the legislative package is Senate Bill 1236, which eliminates red tape at the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that has been preventing new power plants from coming online in a timely fashion by fast-tracking the state permitting process. A prime example of the current permitting process would be the Lincoln Land Energy Center in Pawnee, which started the permitting process with the Illinois EPA in 2017. The plant is finally expected to open in 2028 after delays in construction permit approval, despite its owner’s original plan to open the plant in 2022.
“By cutting red tape and fast-tracking energy projects, this proposal helps expand supply, lower prices, and reduce government delays,” said State Senator Neil Anderson (R-Andalusia). “For too long, we have had potential energy for our grid delayed by unreasonable regulations that have harmed our energy production, and the people of our state have paid the price.”
“Reliable, affordable energy is not a luxury, it’s a necessity,” said State Senator Sue Rezin (R-Morris). “Illinois needs to take immediate steps to strengthen grid stability and prevent further price spikes. This legislative package is about smart, practical reforms that will protect consumers, support energy growth, and ensure our energy policies reflect the real-world needs of families and businesses.”
While the Senators continue to push for legislative action to assist with future energy bills, they encourage concerned constituents to visit the caucus’ FAQ page to learn ways they can help offset some of the expected electric rate hikes.
