In my election night (actually 3AM) article on the electric aggregation referendums in McHenry County, I asked those opposed to tell why. And I asked where they lived. Here are the comments that were received thus far: Sue Gwinnup said … Continue reading
What I thought was going to be the most uncontroversial item on the ballot wasn’t. Having put together the bulk buying of natural gas for state government facilities across Illinois while working for the Department of Central Management Services, it … Continue reading
Lots of places in Illinois are having electric aggregation referendums on March 20th. They all will pass, because legislators voted to allow Commonwealth Edison and Ameren to raise electric rates and voters will rightly see that voting in favor of … Continue reading
A notice from the Huntley Area Tea Party: Come to the Huntley TEA Parties’ Smart Meter Event Who: The Huntley Tea Party What: Smart Meter Awareness Meeting- What’s coming your way? When: Wednesday, February 22nd, 6:30-700 PM: signup, meet and … Continue reading
I admit that I do not understand what the mislabled “Smart Grid” ComEd/Ameren rate hike legislation did to raise electric rates and maybe the hikes I see by comparing my most recent 2012 bill with last year’s, but I don’t … Continue reading
An email from State Senator Dan Duffy: 26th District Legislative Update Dear Friends, Today Illinois faces problems like never before. Our state is in need of strong leadership. As your representative in Springfield, I am working to promote a job-friendly … Continue reading
Looking out the bedroom window this morning, I saw footprints in the snow on the driveway. They went to the back of the house all the way to the electric meter. Besides the primary goal of increasing the cost of … Continue reading
I knew I was getting a lot of hits on my October 28, 2011, story about the campaign contributions given by the electric industry, but look what popped up a couple of weeks ago on Quad Cities OnLine. It’s a … Continue reading
Here is State Senator Pam Althoff’s explanation of her vote on the override of Governor Pat Quinn’s veto of the bill sought by Commonwealth Edison and Ameren. It is in the form of a letter to constituents contacting her about … Continue reading
Previously, McHenry County Blog has reported on the contributions from Commonwealth Edison, Ameren and others to State Senator Pam Althoff and State Rep. Jack Franks. Both voted to override Governor Pat Quinn’s veto, Franks a last minute switch. State Senator … Continue reading
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
Each year for the next ten years, Commonwealth Edison and Ameren, its Downstate counterpart will be increasing our electric rates, compliments of State Senator Pam Althoff and State Representatives The State Senate voted to override Governor Pat Quinn’s veto this … 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
It’s always interesting to look at ads right before and during a legislative session. Today in the Chicago Tribune is an ad paid for by business and environmental interests calling themselves STOP Coalition. It’s a full page (p. 6). The … Continue reading
A presentation about how the McHenry County Board could help residents save 10% or more on electric bills by shopping around was made at the September 9th Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee. The draft minutes of the committee chaired by … Continue reading
McHenry County making the front page of the Chicago Sun-Times twice in one week. That’s probably a record since the tragic school bus-Metra train collision in Fox River Grove in the mid-1990’s. First we are treated to the Thursday revelation … Continue reading
