Consumers Organized for Reliable Electricity (CORE) Formed

Press Release: Sep 27, 2005 (12:30 pm)


Will Advocate for Continued Economic Growth, Industry Stability, Regulatory Impartiality

Chicago - A coalition of some of the state's most prestigious business, labor, community and energy industry groups today announced the launch of a statewide effort to warn the public about political threats to the electric industry that jeopardize the Illinois economy.

"Members of Consumers Organized for Reliable Electricity (CORE) share a common concern that Illinois' successful transition to a competitive power market is being threatened by political influences," said Barnaby Dinges, who serves as the new group's Executive Director. "Eight years of economic progress for customers and local utilities is being undermined by politicians pushing an irresponsible agenda. We have deep concerns about what is happening because it puts us all at risk."

CORE is being formed eight years into the process of transitioning electric power from a regulated industry to a competitive market. Under Illinois law, utilities must buy energy in the open market beginning in 2007. It is to be decided how Illinois will procure its power starting in January of 2007. Some politicians are suddenly trying to turn back the clock on a competitive, pro-reliability approach that has been nearly nine years in the making, without offering alternatives.

"The last thing IRMA's 23,000 stores want to worry about is reliable electricity," said David F. Vite, President and CEO of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association and a member of CORE's founding Advisory Committee. "We need strong local utilities and certainty in knowing how Illinois will buy its power in the near future."

CORE's founding Advisory Committee includes:

• Greg W. Baise, President/CEO, Illinois Manufacturers Association
• Carnice Carey, Executive Director, Cosmopolitan Chamber of Commerce
• Michael T. Carrigan, Secretary-Treasurer, Illinois AFL-CIO
• James W. Compton, President, Chicago Urban League
• Mike Fitzgerald, Business Manager, IBEW Local #134
• Mary Gonzalez-Koenig, Executive Director, Spanish Coalition for Jobs
• John T. Hooker, Senior Vice President of Legislative & External Affairs, ComEd
• Phillip Jackson, Executive Director, The Black Star Project
• Donald P. Jacobs, Ph.D., Dean Emeritus, Kellogg School of Management
• Colleen McShane, President, Illinois Restaurant Association
• Paul O\'Connor, Executive Director, World Business Chicago
• Philip R. O\'Connor, Vice President, Constellation NewEnergy
• Juan Rangel, CEO, United Neighborhood Organization (UNO)
• Jerry Roper, President/CEO, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce
• Cesar A. Santoy, Executive Director, Hispanic American Construction Industry Association (HACIA)
• Deborah Sawyer, President/CEO, Environmental Design International, Inc.
• Tom Villanova, President, Chicago & Cook County Building and Construction Trades Council
• David F. Vite, CEO, Illinois Retail Merchants Association
• Douglas Whitley, President/CEO, Illinois State Chamber of Commerce

"We are increasingly dependent on electricity to power our computers, cool our homes and expand our communities and businesses," said Avis LaVelle, CORE's Media Liaison. "We expect electricity to be readily accessible when we plug into an outlet. It makes no sense to disrupt a system that is so critical to our way of life and our growing economy."

CORE's statewide positions include:

• Opposing proposals that would financially undermine local electric companies and destabilize the electric utility service we take for granted -- this devastated reliability and led to a $10-billion taxpayer bailout in California
• Ensuring decisions about the future of electricity pricing and delivery are left to an objective and informed Illinois Commerce Commission -- insulated from political pressures
• Supporting the creation of competitive markets for buying and selling electricity -- so prices can come down and smaller companies can have the opportunity to get into the business
• Supporting a state-regulated competitive bidding process which results in the lowest price -- what is the alternative?
• Supporting prudent investment in the transmission and distribution system -- because we all have a stake in reliable electricity

"Electric industry restructuring in Illinois is on track and has been good for all customers," said Philip R. O'Connor, Vice President of Constellation NewEnergy and a former chairman of the Illinois Commerce Commission. "Over the last eight years the decisions made by the ICC have proven to be the right ones in terms of helping to make competitive markets a reality in Illinois."

Some have proposed arbitrarily extending the 20 percent rate cut and the rate freeze implemented in 1997. CORE believes this is an unrealistic proposal that would put Illinois utilities' in financial jeopardy and undermine their ability to properly invest in the state's power grid. This proposal could lead to energy shortages and the bankruptcy or sale of local utilities. It would also create a massive disruption of the state's economy, job losses and widespread consumer anger.

"CORE's primary funding source is ComEd," Dinges said. "At the same time, all CORE members are united by their concern for electricity reliability, and the vital role it plays in our economy and in our lives and lifestyles."

For further information, please visit the CORE web site at www.illinoiscore.org.

For more information:

Media Liaison
Avis LaVelle
312-223-0581