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CUB Concerned Over Proposed Energy Bill
(IRN)-A bill pending in the state legislature has utility companies happy but has a utility watchdog group concerned.

The Energy Infrastructure Modernization Act would pave the way for badly needed energy infrastructure investment by creating a policy framework to reform electric utility regulation and facilitate the electric grid modernization program, according to Anne Pramaggiore, president and chief operating officer of ComEd. She says it would come at a small increase for consumers.

"Given the investment we've proposed in this bill it's about a 2.2 percent increase per year for our customers," Pramaggiore said. She adds that it would stabilize rates for customers and given the increased electrical demand in our digital world, the upgrades are needed.

The bill would also reform the way rates are calculated, something that has the Citizens Utility Board concerned. CUB president Dave Kulota says the bill isn’t a good deal for consumers.

"It’s a very radical change in our system of state oversight," Kulota said. "It would really gut the authority of the Illinois Commerce Commission to review rate increases. It would put them on an automatic path and at a minimum I think we would see over 2 percent bill impact rate increases every single year, automatically."

The bill is sponsored by state Rep. Kevin McCarthy (D-Orland Park).

(Source:Illinois Radio Network)
02 09 11 by Newsroom
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