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posted on:
8/30/2011 5:36:14 PM EST
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Update on the ComEd Bill
Natural gas, com-ed, commercial energy consultants
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Legislation commonly referred to as the "ComEd bill" that would help roll out a sophisticated smart grid program but alter the way electricity rates are decided is on its way to Gov. Pat Quinn's desk.
The controversial legislation, backed by Chicago-based Commonwealth Edison Co., has been staunchly opposed by consumer advocates and others who call it is a "Trojan horse" meant to pad the utility's bottom line by removing regulatory obstacles in place for 100 years.
Quinn has vowed to veto the legislation, and a maneuver by Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) stalled the bill's delivery to Quinn. Friday, Cullerton withdrew the motion in place since June, so the General Assembly has 30 days to send the bill to Quinn, who would then have 60 days to sign or veto it.
ComEd and its lobbyists have been using the time to meet one-on-one with legislators to try to win enough votes to override a veto. Bennie Currie, spokesman for ComEd, urged Quinn to sign the bill, saying it would create a more reliable grid. "Since its introduction last winter, the bill has undergone significant revisions to address concerns raised by the governor and multiple shareholders. The benefits of the legislation exceed the costs," Currie said.
ComEd says smart grid technology will help the utility better control outages because it will know exactly where the problem is without customers needing to call. At the same time, they say smart meters and other devices would give customers more control over their electricity usage.
To pay for the technology, ComEd is proposing that electric rates be determined largely according to formula instead with an 11-month court-like proceeding used today. They say that makes it impossible for them to know whether or not they will be able to recover their costs, which makes long-term investments difficult.
But consumer advocates argue that the deeper review process provides necessary checks and balances and prevent consumers from paying for improper expenses that utilities have tried to sneak into bills in the past.
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