Gov vetoes bill to raise Illinois electric rates

The fate of legislation to raise electric rates to help pay to modernize Illinois' power grid is back in the hands of lawmakers after Gov. Pat Quinn made good on a promise Monday to veto the measure because he said it was a "nightmare" for consumers. Sponsors of the legislation were quick to cautiously predict that Quinn's veto wouldn't stand when lawmakers returned to work next month at the Illinois Capitol. "We've got a good shot," said state Sen. Mike Jacobs, an East Moline Democrat who has previously said supporters would find enough votes to override Quinn's long-anticipated veto. State Rep. Kevin McCarthy of the Chicago suburb of Orland Park also said he was "very confident." It's a challenge Quinn seemed to relish. "If they want to try and override the veto, be my guest," he said at a Chicago news conference. Lawmakers had held on to the bill to try to convince Quinn of its merits before eventually sending the measure to his desk late last month for action. The veto came as no surprise because Quinn had been promising to do it since lawmakers passed the bill in May. Quinn and other opponents, including Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, complained the bill didn't have enough consumer protections and would unfairly raise rates for Commonwealth Edison and Ameren customers. The governor added to his criticism by chastising ComEd for its handling of recent power outages, saying the company could, and should, provide better service. Supporters contend the legislation is needed to finance a "Smart Grid" that can monitor energy use and reduce waste. The $3 billion, 10-year plan also would have given ComEd and Ameren money for basic infrastructure. Quinn urged lawmakers to let his veto stand and said everyone should go back to the bargaining table. He said the starting point should be a plan put forth by the Illinois Commerce Commission, which regulates utilities. ComEd said opponents were off base about the legislation known as Senate Bill 1652 or SB1652. "Despite the rhetoric of the legislation opponents, SB1652 does not guarantee profits, will not result in automatic rates increases and does not strip the authority of the ICC," ComEd said in a statement. "Illinois customers want more than the status quo. We look forward to working with members of the General Assembly to help make grid modernization and economic growth a reality in Illinois." Overriding Quinn won't be easy. The measure didn't pass with a veto-proof majority in either chamber, and supporters will need 71 votes in the House and 36 in the Senate to do it. A spokesman for Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan said the speaker had supported the bill and thought the ICC had done a poor job of dealing with the issues that the bill addressed, such as the infrastructure costs for utilities. But Madigan spokesman Steve Brown wouldn't speculate on the bill's fate. "I don't do predictions on the outcomes of bills," he said. Madigan's fellow Democrat, Senate President John Cullerton, also initially supported the legislation because of the investments in infrastructure, job creation and environmental policies that were included, said spokesman John Patterson. "He is willing to work with members of the Senate Democratic caucus to improve the legislation," Patterson said in an email.