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During a news conference at the Illinois Capitol on Wednesday,
Bryan McDaniel of the Citizens Utility Board said ratepayers
could save $40 million a year if they did not cover expenses
that have no consumer benefit.
“Rather, they advance the agendas of Illinois utilities and
increase their political power,” McDaniel said.
State Rep. Theresa Mah, D-Chicago, said House Bill 4781 and
Senate Bill 3497 would hold utility companies accountable and
help lower electric, gas and water bills.
“It’s hard to believe, but when we pay our monthly bills we are
bankrolling utility memberships in trade associations that push
the utilities’ anti-consumer agenda,” Mah said.
Mah said ratepayers are also covering utility insurance
policies, goodwill advertising and outside lawyers.
State Sen. Suzy Glowiak Hilton, D-Western Springs, said energy
bills have doubled for some of her constituents.
“What we should be doing is delivering energy to homes and
businesses, not asking people to pay for extra things that don’t
do that,” Glowiak Hilton said.
Glowiak Hilton filed SB 3497 earlier this month.
“That’s what this legislation is about. It’s about putting real
guardrails in place so utilities can’t quietly shift unnecessary
costs onto the very people they are supposed to be serving,”
Glowiak Hilton said.
An Ameren Illinois spokesperson said the utility recognizes its
responsibility to keep bills as low as possible.
“Every dollar we spend is reviewed by the Illinois Commerce
Commission in an open and transparent regulatory proceeding, as
required by state law. Some of the costs targeted by this
legislation are critical to helping make customers aware of
beneficial programs and resources that help them manage their
bills,” the Ameren spokesperson said in a statement to The
Center Square.
The Center Square also reached out to ComEd, Aqua Illinois,
Illinois American Water and Peoples Gas, but the companies did
not respond before publication.
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