Briel Bill Seeks to Lower Energy and Utility Costs

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Working to provide more relief to Illinoisans facing rising energy costs, state Rep. Amy ‘Murri’ Briel, D-Ottawa, passed comprehensive legislation Wednesday evening that seeks to bring down home energy bills both immediately and in the long term for residents, while holding large utility corporations accountable.

“Light and heat are the most basic needs of any household, particularly as we face the upcoming darker, colder months,” said Briel. “Energy costs should be affordable regardless of your family size or your personal income. When our residents statewide are slapped in the face with these egregious bills—it’s time for the state to step in to provide relief where we can.”

Many Illinois residents have seen home energy costs skyrocket. Increased power demands from new high-tech businesses and Washington’s massive tax bill threaten to raise costs even further—resulting in $9.5 billion in increased state energy costs. The Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act (Senate Bill 25) puts Illinois on better footing to counteract rising energy
prices by tapping into:

● Capturing clean energy: By capturing and redistributing energy already being produced, including from home solar panels, Ameren and ComEd customers can see immediate relief on monthly costs.
● Increasing battery storage: By building out our grid to increase the state’s battery storage, power systems will become more reliable and affordable to power millions of Illinois homes.
● Investing in energy efficiency programs: Senate Bill 25 directly expands energy efficiency programs for residents, lowering electricity prices by reducing overall demand, and improves equity in programs by allocating a minimum amount of funds to support
low-income customers.

The measure will additionally create up to 115,000 jobs, counteracting job insecurity and layoffs caused by the federal budget bill— including over 50,000 lost manufacturing jobs in Illinois. As utility demands increase during the fall and winter months, Senate Bill 25 will play a significant role in meeting the state’s energy needs, strengthening reliability and helping manage untenable costs for customers for both short- and long-term relief.

“By investing in energy that is cleaner and more efficient, we’re reducing our power demand which will chip away costs for families statewide. With everything going on at the federal level, it’s critical that our residents can at least count on keeping the lights on during this erratic time,” said Briel.