News Articles
Why a freeze was a bad idea
Chicago Sun-Times Editorial
July 25, 2007
As attractive as a rate freeze sounded, power customers will come out ahead under the $1 billion rate relief deal that state leaders negotiated with the power industry.
Chicago Sun-Times Editorial
July 25, 2007
As attractive as a rate freeze sounded, power customers will come out ahead under the $1 billion rate relief deal that state leaders negotiated with the power industry.
Electricity and deregulation
Chicago Tribune
June 19, 2007
People who complain about the current rates need to remember we directed our elected representatives to bring about this change in the first place in return for the benefits of a deregulated utility industry.
Chicago Tribune
June 19, 2007
People who complain about the current rates need to remember we directed our elected representatives to bring about this change in the first place in return for the benefits of a deregulated utility industry.
Electric rates still subject of debate
JG/T-C Springfield Bureau
June 15, 2007
Key players in the state debate over high power bills emerged from an hours-long, closed door meeting Thursday using a similar — and familiar — refrain. "We made substantial progress," said House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago.
JG/T-C Springfield Bureau
June 15, 2007
Key players in the state debate over high power bills emerged from an hours-long, closed door meeting Thursday using a similar — and familiar — refrain. "We made substantial progress," said House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago.
Progress' made on utility rates
Peoria Journal Star
June 15, 2007
I think there was enough progress made that there's the possibility of an end in sight," said Sen. Dale Risinger, a Peoria Republican who is his party's spokesman on the Senate Environment and Energy Committee.
Peoria Journal Star
June 15, 2007
I think there was enough progress made that there's the possibility of an end in sight," said Sen. Dale Risinger, a Peoria Republican who is his party's spokesman on the Senate Environment and Energy Committee.
ComEd says its spent $8 million on bill aid
Daily Herald
June 6, 2007
So far, ComEd has issued credits between $30 and $240 to more than 200,000 customers as part of a $64 million relief package. ComEd officials said by the end of June more than $15.5 million in relief will be distributed.
Daily Herald
June 6, 2007
So far, ComEd has issued credits between $30 and $240 to more than 200,000 customers as part of a $64 million relief package. ComEd officials said by the end of June more than $15.5 million in relief will be distributed.
The day after the freeze
Chicago Tribune Editorial
June 2, 2007
Lawmakers will make a mistake, though, if they turn the negotiations into an extortion attempt. That seems entirely possible. Commonwealth Edison and Ameren, the state's two largest electric utilities, have offered $500 million in rate relief and discounts.
Chicago Tribune Editorial
June 2, 2007
Lawmakers will make a mistake, though, if they turn the negotiations into an extortion attempt. That seems entirely possible. Commonwealth Edison and Ameren, the state's two largest electric utilities, have offered $500 million in rate relief and discounts.
Utilities propose $500 million ln Ill. power rate relief
Reuters
May 31, 2007
The three-year $500 million rate relief and consumer assistance proposal would provide $300 million for ComEd customers and $200 million for Ameren customers through 2009.
Reuters
May 31, 2007
The three-year $500 million rate relief and consumer assistance proposal would provide $300 million for ComEd customers and $200 million for Ameren customers through 2009.
Say 'no' to electric rate freeze, 'yes' to relief package
Pantagraph Editorial Board
May 31, 2007
Reinstituting the rate freeze would be a short-term, short-sighted solution, at best...And it wouldn't even be much of a solution, considering the inevitable lawsuits that would delay its implementation.
Pantagraph Editorial Board
May 31, 2007
Reinstituting the rate freeze would be a short-term, short-sighted solution, at best...And it wouldn't even be much of a solution, considering the inevitable lawsuits that would delay its implementation.
Suppliers ready to compete if lawmakers drop electric rate freeze
ABC7Chicago.com
May 13, 2007
Electricity marketing companies say they're ready to do business in Illinois, offering consumers more choices and lower prices — but only if lawmakers drop plans for another electric rate freeze.
ABC7Chicago.com
May 13, 2007
Electricity marketing companies say they're ready to do business in Illinois, offering consumers more choices and lower prices — but only if lawmakers drop plans for another electric rate freeze.
Businesses can shop around for power now
Urbana/Champaign News-Gazette
May 12, 2007
"In the deregulated utility market, commercial customers can now shop around for power."
Urbana/Champaign News-Gazette
May 12, 2007
"In the deregulated utility market, commercial customers can now shop around for power."
Power rate rollback would be a mistake
Chicago Sun-Times
May 10, 2007
"They have responded with a serious push to roll back rates to their frozen levels. It sounds simple and alluring, but it would be a bad mistake."
Chicago Sun-Times
May 10, 2007
"They have responded with a serious push to roll back rates to their frozen levels. It sounds simple and alluring, but it would be a bad mistake."
Officials say ComEd may start doling out relief soon
Journal Gazette and Times-Courier - Charleston, IL
May 9, 2007
ComEd officials said Tuesday theyll soon begin paying out $44 million in relief to northern Illinois customers this year to compensate for high power bills.
Journal Gazette and Times-Courier - Charleston, IL
May 9, 2007
ComEd officials said Tuesday theyll soon begin paying out $44 million in relief to northern Illinois customers this year to compensate for high power bills.
Springfield gets electric
Chicago Tribune
April 25, 2007
"The politicking over electric power has gotten ugly in Springfield. It is risking harm to the state's business climate and creating uncertainty over the solvency of the state's largest electric utilities."
Chicago Tribune
April 25, 2007
"The politicking over electric power has gotten ugly in Springfield. It is risking harm to the state's business climate and creating uncertainty over the solvency of the state's largest electric utilities."
Customers Are Best Served By Competitive Markets
Letter to the Editor,
The Wall Street Journal
April 3, 2007
"Fulfilling the promise of deregulation, however, requires that these benefits are shared by residential customers, as well."
Letter to the Editor,
The Wall Street Journal
April 3, 2007
"Fulfilling the promise of deregulation, however, requires that these benefits are shared by residential customers, as well."
Local business representatives learn ways to navigate the energy market
Herb Meeker, Staff Writer,
Journal-Gazette Times Courier, Mattoon
March 28, 2007
The market can be risky with electricity prices changing by the hour and the end of a rate freeze bringing costs 10 years forward after a deregulation hibernation. Audience members at a session Wednesday learned the good and bad of the changing energy market."
Herb Meeker, Staff Writer,
Journal-Gazette Times Courier, Mattoon
March 28, 2007
The market can be risky with electricity prices changing by the hour and the end of a rate freeze bringing costs 10 years forward after a deregulation hibernation. Audience members at a session Wednesday learned the good and bad of the changing energy market."
Rate freeze would bankrupt ComEd, cripple Illinois
Letter to the Editor,
The Daily Southtown
March 14, 2007
Reinstituting the rate freeze on ComEd, however well-intended, would cause more problems than it would solve.
Letter to the Editor,
The Daily Southtown
March 14, 2007
Reinstituting the rate freeze on ComEd, however well-intended, would cause more problems than it would solve.
Customers switch off ComEd: Many businesses have defected since last year
Mary Wisniewski Business Reporter,
Chicago Sun-Times
March 8, 2007
"Every time a customer determines they don't need to buy power from us, one can conclude they got a better deal in the market."
Mary Wisniewski Business Reporter,
Chicago Sun-Times
March 8, 2007
"Every time a customer determines they don't need to buy power from us, one can conclude they got a better deal in the market."
Give deregulation a chance to bring power to the people
Editorial,
Chicago Sun-Times
March 5, 2007
We have advocated sticking with the process to see if the higher rates now will draw competition into the Illinois market.
Editorial,
Chicago Sun-Times
March 5, 2007
We have advocated sticking with the process to see if the higher rates now will draw competition into the Illinois market.
ComEd chief wants to throw flag on CUB leader's column
Letter to the Editor,
The Daily Southtown
Feb 5, 2007
“The Illinois General Assembly must reject Mr. Kolata's bad game plan, or it will be the state's electricity users who get sacked.”
Letter to the Editor,
The Daily Southtown
Feb 5, 2007
“The Illinois General Assembly must reject Mr. Kolata's bad game plan, or it will be the state's electricity users who get sacked.”
ComEd got fair value for nuke plants
Letter to the Editor,
The Daily Southtown
Jan 15, 2007
"Confusing the issue of our necessary rate increases with unrelated matters does a disservice to consumers. Let's keep the focus on the facts rather than fiction."
Letter to the Editor,
The Daily Southtown
Jan 15, 2007
"Confusing the issue of our necessary rate increases with unrelated matters does a disservice to consumers. Let's keep the focus on the facts rather than fiction."
Populism and power
Editorial,
Chicago Tribune
Jan 9, 2007
“Madigan's proposal to extend the nearly decade-old freeze on rates, which passed the House on Sunday, does consumers no favor.”
Editorial,
Chicago Tribune
Jan 9, 2007
“Madigan's proposal to extend the nearly decade-old freeze on rates, which passed the House on Sunday, does consumers no favor.”
The perils of freezing electric rates to placate consumers
Op-Ed,
Chicago Tribune
Nov 28, 2006
"Whatever short-term gain might be enjoyed by extending the Illinois rate freeze, it will be greatly eclipsed by the long-term pain that will follow."
Op-Ed,
Chicago Tribune
Nov 28, 2006
"Whatever short-term gain might be enjoyed by extending the Illinois rate freeze, it will be greatly eclipsed by the long-term pain that will follow."
Rate freezes
Letter to the Editor,
Chicago Tribune
Nov 26, 2006
"Let’s stop the insanity and realize that ComEd has seen it costs to do business have gone up just like any other company."
Letter to the Editor,
Chicago Tribune
Nov 26, 2006
"Let’s stop the insanity and realize that ComEd has seen it costs to do business have gone up just like any other company."
