The Campaign for Political Reform has a spreadsheet that shows how much each state legislator has taken from companies like Commonwealth Edison, Ameren and other entities which it thinks has a stake in the so-called “Smart Grid” electricity rate hike … Continue reading
Lots of people are cynical about the legislative process. They should be. And, I’m the guy whose seatmate, Rep. Tom Johnson, would turn to me when I was particularly outraged and say, “Cal, your problem is that you think this … Continue reading
State Senator Dan Duffy’s speech in opposition to the Com Ed/Ameren electric rate increase bill: Business side of bill: This “smart grid” technology does not prevent outages from Storms like we experienced in the recent past. It is not going … Continue reading
State Senator Pam Althoff provided the deciding vote in overriding Governor Pat Quinn’s veto of the Commonwealth Edison/Ameren electric rate increase bill. The veto override of the veto of Senate Bill 1652 passed by just one vote. That means every … Continue reading
Readers by now have figured out that I think Com Ed’s and Ameren’s electricity rate hike “Smart Grid” bill is dumb. Let me tell you why. The Illinois Commerce Commission has granted monopoly status to electric utilities. In return for … Continue reading
Here’s the roll call for the so-called trailer bill that supposed to make the Com Ed/Ameren rate hike bill better. Governor Pat Quinn, who cut some of his community organizing teeth creating the Citizens Utility Board, doesn’t agree that it … Continue reading
I don’t claim any expertise concerning electric utilities Commonwealth Edison’s and Ameren’s wanting customers to pay for upgrading its system. But, it does seem to me that getting the electricity to homes and businesses is part of the business of … Continue reading
Senate bill 1652, the legislation that Commonwealth Edison and Downstate electric utility Ameeen promotes as a “Smart Grid” bill, passed the Illinois House this Memorial Day 67-47-1. It previously passed the Senate, as you can see from the Senate roll … Continue reading
The Collinsville blog Respublica has an interesting story about a Saturday visit by an employee of the family’s gas company. This is what caught my attention: “…the man asked to come in and check the pilot lights. Dale showed him … Continue reading
