New Report From Illinois PIRG Shines Light on ComEd and Exelon's Shameful Practices

AARP Illinois commends Illinois PIRG for their newly released report highlighting the egregious tactics and schemes which ComEd and Exelon have successfully used, along with their deep pockets, to pass the 2011 Energy Infrastructure Modernization Act and other legislation through the Illinois legislature. These measures resulted in nearly $5 billion more in ComEd’s pockets, a 37% delivery rate increase through formula rates, nuclear bailouts for Exelon and other legislation that digs deep into ratepayers' wallets.

AARP Illinois will stand with consumers and continue its fight to end the formula rate program or any other rate experiment that is brought forward. On behalf of our 1.7 million members and all older adults in Illinois, we call for a return to cost-of-service regulation using rate case filings in order to put the power back in the hands of the Illinois Commerce Commission.

This process worked well for ratepayers prior to the 2011 legislation that has helped the utility companies enrich themselves with little oversight.

Illinois PIRG’s research makes it abundantly clear that rate affordability and reliability should be the tenets of any energy legislation and is exactly the direction in which we should proceed. This includes fighting additional nuclear bailouts and ending ratepayer funded charitable contributions.

AARP Illinois will also continue to work on behalf of our members to stop allowing utility companies free reign of the legislative process.  This report gives absolute credence to and reinforces AARP Illinois’ message that the time is now, more than ever, to get special interests out of this process.