By Bryan McDaniel
CUB Director of Governmental Affairs
CUB’s Bryan McDaniel speaks at a news conference for the No More Utility Bill Rip-offs Customer Protection Act. From left, are Anusha Thotakura, Executive Director at Citizen Action/Illinois, Rep. Kimberly Du Buclet, Bryan, and Philippe Largent, State Director of AARP Illinois.
Now that the dust has settled on the spring session of the 104th General Assembly, I wanted to give you an overview of the legislation we fought for: Progress was made on CUB’s consumer agenda, but the fight continues.
The Capitol is quite a place, and it is always an honor to walk into it on behalf of people like you and work to save money on your utility bills. I’m grateful for all your support, including sending more than 8,000 messages to Springfield in favor of pro-consumer legislation–outstanding!
We’ve reported on how the POWER Act was short circuited, for now, by some of the wealthiest corporations in the world who are not in a big hurry to pay the full cost of their electric bill. CUB is hopeful for action on data centers later this year or early next. Here’s a report on other pro-consumer legislation you and I fought for this year.
Senate Bill 75, CUB’s Water Affordability bill, has been stalled by utility opposition. CUB is fighting to ensure shareholders have some skin in the game as utilities buy up systems all over the state–the proposed legislation would require investors to pay for the majority of the costs of those acquisitions, not private water customers. American Water’s president recently bragged on an earnings call that the company’s dividend has “significantly outpaced virtually all of our utility peers.” It’s past time for the General Assembly to slow down the water utilities’ gravy train.
Similarly, it’s no surprise that AT&T opposed Senate Bill 3965/House Bill 4562, which would preserve landline phone service for another five years for Illinois consumers who depend on it. The company has sent letters to Illinois consumers announcing the end of landlines in 2027. AT&T is moving aggressively for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to allow them to abandon their landline network and allow them to cash-in on the copper wiring, while copper prices are at all-time highs and climbing.
Also, water, gas, and electric utilities put up roadblocks against SB 3497/HB 4781, the Utility Transparency Act. Following similar legislation passed in Colorado, Maine, and Connecticut, this commonsense measure would prohibit cost recovery for a number of expenses we now pay for on our utility bills–for example: a utility’s outside lawyers and witnesses in rate cases, insurance that protects utility shareholders, utility memberships in trade associations, and utility goodwill advertising. Utility customers shouldn’t be paying higher bills to enhance utility political power and utility efforts to raise rates.
Plus, retail energy suppliers, backed by skyrocketing profits at the generation arms of some of the bigger players, threw their weight against HB 4313, the No More Utility Bill Rip-Offs Customer Protection Act, a series of reforms to protect utility customers from bad energy deals. Among the protections, HB 4313 would require that suppliers cannot at any time charge a supply rate more than 10 percent higher than the utility supply price. Also, it would require a customer’s signature at the time of automatic contract renewal if the supplier is increasing the rate.
It pains me to say it, but legislation doesn’t move quickly when it’s opposed by some of the largest telecom and energy interests at the State Capitol. But that just shows these are strong, pro-consumer ideas. The fight continues–because these bills are worth fighting for. Thank you for being a part of this work!
