BY MIKE CETERA
Lawmakers on Thursday approved an electric rate relief package -- largely along party lines -- that will give ComEd customers on average a $7 monthly credit for the rest of the year. Republicans (who are both right and wrong on this argument) balked that the rebates aren't enough.
Under the agreed measure, Chicago area Commonwealth Edison customers would receive a one-time average rebate of $50 and an approximate $7 monthly credit for the rest of the year. Several Republicans mocked the seemingly paltry payout."It will be wonderful when they get their $8, and $10, and $12 checks. They'll be so happy," state Rep. Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro) said sarcastically. He nevertheless voted for the plan.
Which way did local lawmakers vote?
In the Senate:
Yes -- Holmes, Millner
No -- Lauzen, Hultgren
In the House:
Yes -- Chapa LaVia, Pritchard
No -- Cross, Dunn, Lindner
Excused absence -- Schmitz
So, Republicans say this doesn't go far enough to help out consumers. They're right. But I'm not sure what voting "no" accomplishes. It's not like there's going to be a better offer. Shouldn't you just take what you can get?
But the larger story that seems to get no attention is that we wouldn't have this mess now if a decade ago lawmakers and advocacy groups weren't so gung ho about electric deregulation. In the end, they traded an immediate rate cut then for higher rates now. We now know deregulation doesn't work.
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