|
ICC judge recommends 3% rate hike for ComEd
April 13, 2011 — An administrative judge at the Illinois Commerce Commission has recommended that Commonwealth Edison Co. be allowed a rate increase of $166 million, less than half what the Chicago-based utility requested last June.
By Mary Ellen Podmolik, Chicago Tribune It’s uncertain whether the recommendation, which is far less than the $326 million ComEd asked for last year, will mollify consumers and their advocates who have lined up in opposition to ComEd’s request that would add about $5 to the average resident’s $86 monthly bill. The Citizens Utility Board and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office are among those that have testified against the proposal. “ComEd’s rates which are presently in effect are insufficient to generate the operating income necessary to permit ComEd the opportunity to earn a fair and reasonable return on net original cost rate base; these rates should be permanently canceled and annulled,” states the proposed order, filed with the ICC April 1. The April 1 proposal sides with staff, the attorney general’s office and CUB in recommending that ComEd be denied the ability the ability to recover from ratepayers $72,000 in expenses related to game tickets and luxury box catering expenses because “they are not necessary for the provision of safe and reliable electric service.” The ICC is expected to make a final decision on the proposed rate increase by May 24. The judge’s proposed order was first reported by Crain’s Chicago Tweet |