Illinois Passes Historic Energy Bill that Acts to Curb Surging Electricity Prices

SPRINGFIELD, IL — The Illinois General Assembly passed the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability (CRGA) Act today, the last day of the veto session. When signed into law, the bill will implement reforms to help bring electricity prices down and strengthen the power grid with the largest investment in clean energy in the state's history. It will also help lower their utility bills.  

The following is a statement from Kari Ross, Midwest energy affordability advocate at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council): 

“The CRGA Act averts a major energy affordability crisis for Illinois residents. Through investment in cost-effective clean energy resources and holistic state energy planning, the CRGA Act will protect Illinois residents against surging electricity prices. It will better balance our supply and demand crunch while reducing strain on the power grid.  

Illinois has again proven that it is a national leader on clean energy and consumer protection by passing commonsense reforms that prioritize families and businesses while achieving its climate goals.”  

Highlights of the bill: 

• Starts a critical statewide battery storage procurement target of 3 gigawatts by 2030 that will save customers money and speed the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy. This battery storage investment is estimated to power at least half a million homes for 24 hours during times of need.
• Strengthens and increases utility electric energy efficiency goals and investment, roughly doubling Ameren’s programs and increasing ComEd’s by 25 percent. The utilities’ minimum income-qualified spend requirement is tripled to 25 percent of total spending, which will be a near $137 million per year investment for ComEd customers and an average of $55.5 million a year for Ameren customers
• Provides initiatives to expand the efficiency of the state’s transmission system and accelerate the connection of energy storage to the power grid.
• Establishes a state Integrated Resource Plan that gives the state more power to reduce skyrocketing wholesale power costs and chart its own energy destiny through rigorous energy modeling, consumer analysis, and the approval of the Illinois Commerce Commission.  
• Strengthens gas energy efficiency programs that help Illinois families reduce their utility bills by allowing Nicor, Peoples, and North Shore Gas to pursue increased energy reduction goals. For the first time, codifies robust minimum requirements for income-qualified programs, including a directive to spend 80 percent of said budgets on comprehensive, whole-home programs that provide no-cost rebates on weatherization and highly efficient technology. 

NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Established in 1970, NRDC uses science, policy, law and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health and safeguard nature. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Beijing and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd).