Update to Illinois Electric Rate Deal

Electric rate legislation is continuing to be pushed through in Illinois. Now it falls on Governor Blagojevich's lap. Click on the link for more details.

Post-Dispatch
Illinois Utility Rate Relief Passes
By Kevin McDermott
July 27, 2007
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/illinoisnews/story/43C...

Springfield, Ill. — The Illinois Legislature passed on Thursday a $1 billion electric rate-relief package, sending it to Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who has indicated he will sign it.

The measure was opposed by some House Republicans, who complained that the Democratic plan didn't provide enough relief to consumers and was too easy on utilities.

Those opponents included several GOP lawmakers who, just a few months ago, opposed Democratic rate-freeze proposals — on grounds they would give too much to consumers and would be too hard on the utilities.

The Democrat-controlled House voted 80-33 to pass the measure, with some downstate Republicans backing it. The Senate later followed suit, passing it 40-13. Controversial high electric rates that went into effect in January have hit the downstate customers of Ameren especially hard this year.