Patch on Politics

ComEd Wants You to Pay More for Electricity You Used Last Year

The utility wants lawmakers to amend a 2011 rate-hike law to allow the utility to retroactively collect money for electricity already used.

 The Illinois Senate Executive Committee unanimously approved a request by ComEd and Ameren to "clarify" a 2011 law that allowed the utilities to raise electricity rates, Illinois Public Radio reports. The clarification would allow the power companies to retroactively charge higher rates for the electricity you've already used, potentially raising up to $70 million for ComEd, according to Sun-Times Media. The 2011 law changed the formula used to determine charges. But the utilities say it didn't work as intended. They say regulators aren't letting them charge what they need. Now the companies are back, asking the legislature to pass another law, clarifying the old one.  (Says) ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore: "Without it we are stalled in these…

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Tom S

9:42 pm on Sunday, February 17, 2013

Under the Smart Grid law passed in 2011, ComEd committed to spend $2.6 billion over 10 years to modernize the electric grid in Northern Illinois. The ICC's interpretation of the law reduced funding to complete the modernization program. As a result, ComEd faced a reduction in funding of nearly $100 million per year in 2014 and beyond. Without the additional funding, ComEd stated it could not …   more ›

McConnaughay Turns Down State Pension

District 33 state senator from St. Charles says she's already getting a pension from her service as Kane County Board chairman, and elected officials must lead pension reform by example.

State Sen. Karen McConnaughay, R-St. Charles, announced Tuesday that she has voluntarily turned down the legislative pension offered to members of the General Assembly. McConnaughay is the former Kane County Board chairman. "As someone who is already eligible for a pension after 20 years of service in county government, I do not believe it is appropriate to receive two pensions," she said in a Monday press release. "Pension reform is one of my top priorities in this legislative session. We must find solutions that preservethe retirement systems for our retired teachers and other public employees who have paid into the system throughout their years of service.” McConnaughay went on to say she believes elected government officials must lead …

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Madigan Drops Plan to Shift Pension Costs to School Districts

Under pressure from Illinois Republicans and Gov. Pat Quinn, House Speaker Michael Madigan announces he's dropping his proposal to shift teacher pension costs to local school districts.

Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) on Wednesday dropped his controversial proposal to shift the costs of teacher pensions from the state to local school districts, universities and community colleges. The announcement came after two days of spirited debate over pension reform in both the House and Senate. The change in direction will be appreciated by Geneva School District 304 officials who expressed concern about the bill at Tuesday's board meeing. Madigan's plan, which was part of Senate Bill 1673, was widely criticized by Republicans, and threatened to derail other legislation to address the state's massive pension shortfall. Madigan said he reached the decision after Gov. Pat Quinn asked him to drop the amendment, the …

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$1-a-Pack Cigarette Tax to Help Cover Health Care Shortfall

Gov. Pat Quinn is expected to sign the bill that is designed to raise $800 million to help cover Medicaid costs. Check out how your local legislators voted.

When Illinois smokers take a drag, more than tobacco will go up in smoke. They face a new $1-per-pack state tax in a bill that now goes to Gov. Pat Quinn to sign into law. The Illinois Senate on May 29 and the House on May 25 approved a cigarette tax increase to raise revenue to avoid even deeper cuts to health care for low-income people. No Senate Republicans voted for the tobacco tax measure. Four Democrats, primarily those representing districts on the state's borders, voted against it. According to the Chicago Tribune, the tobacco debate unfolded as House members appeared poised to take action on plans for a revamp of public employee pensions, which have been major drivers of spending in a state that can't pay its bills and has the …

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State Senate May Vote on Controversial Legislative Scholarship Program

Here is a wrap-up of some of the latest political news.

The Illinois House of Representatives has voted to dismantle the scandal-ridden legislative college scholarship program, and the program’s most ardent supporter, Senate President John Cullerton, says he will not stand in the way of a vote on the tuition waiver ban. “Like any other bill, it will go through the normal committee process and there will be an opportunity for a vote,” Cullerton spokeswoman Rikeesha Phelon told Progress Illinois. Phelon’s comments follow Chicago Tribune reports that the Senate President may work to prevent the bill from getting a vote. The Illinois House passed legislation 79-25 March 21 to ban legislative scholarships. Gov. Pat Quinn has spoken against the scholarships. And, The State journal-Register in …

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