The final part of Lakewood Village President Ern Smith’s winter newsletter follows: Electrical Aggregation In the spring of 2012, our residents approved a referendum [results for all such referendums at link] by the widest margin in McHenry County to implement … Continue reading
Category Archives: Electricity
On the heels of Grafton Township Supervisor candidate Marty Waitzman’s comments about electrical needs in the Assessor’s Office comes this response from Grafton Township Supervisor Linda Moore in this memo to Assessor Bill Ottley: Memo: It would be best if … Continue reading
A press release from Grafton Township Supervisor candidate Marty Waitzman: Marty Waitzman – Position Statement on Grafton Township Building ALGONQUIN, IL – I have had many conversations with residents and news reporters who wanted to know whether or not I … Continue reading
A press release from State Senator Pam Althoff: Althoff to host energy bill clinics in Spring Grove, McHenry McHENRY – State Senator Pamela Althoff (R-McHenry) will be hosting two upcoming energy bill clinics with the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) in … Continue reading
Sixteen homeowners opted out of the Village of Lakewood’s plan to purchase electricity from Direct Energy at a substantial savings over what Commonwealth Edison charges. 46% less, in fact. That will not be a reduction in the entire bill. All … Continue reading
Right near the north end of the Virginia Street TIF District (you know the place, just look for the two $16,000 stone monuments) in front of the Crystal Lake Motel, high winds have snapped an electric line maintained by Commonwealth … Continue reading
The next step in lowering electric rates 46% (not Com Ed’s delivery charge) has taken place. Direct Energy has notified residents of the municipalities which awarded it the contract (Woodstock, Huntley, Lakewood, Ringwood and Genoa) that they have the right … Continue reading
I missed the biggest news of Tuesday night. It wasn’t the Grafton Township Electors voting to ratify the deal that the Township Trustees cut with Road Commissioner Jack Freund for the Town Fund to repay the loan taken out to … Continue reading
A local blog called “The Barrington Hills Observer” offers a suggestion as to why the electric aggregation referendum failed in Barrington Hills. Deepening the mystery are favorable referendum results in the neighboring villages of Barrington and South Barrington. “Why did … Continue reading
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
Who could have known that the Chicago Tribune would take on “Chainsaw Jack” Franks and use “Illinois Chain Saw Massacre” in it’s editorial sub-headline? But there it was. A whole editorial aimed at the overreach, no, that’s too mild a … Continue reading
After his last minute “conversion” to the electric rate hike side of the bill promoted by Com Ed and Ameren, it appears that Democrat Jack Franks is now playing water boy for the not-so-regulated-as-before utilities. We have the Emily Berendt … 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
To maximize the volume of electricity for which to bargain with suppliers other than Commonwealth Edison after three (Mike Tryon, Jack Franks and Pam Althoff) of four local legislators voted to allow Com Ed and Ameren to hike electric rates, … 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
The refrain “Angels we have heard on high” went through my head as I looked at the list of referendums that have been requested by tax district officials in McHenry County as of December 28th. Those people we have elected … Continue reading