Ammons Supported Legislation Addressing Rising Energy Costs Signed Into Law

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — A new law signed on Thursday will provide Illinoisans immediate and long-term utility bill relief by bringing down energy costs, thanks to legislation supported by state Rep. Carol Ammons, D-Urbana.

“No one in our community should have to choose between paying their utility bill and buying groceries or paying for prescriptions,” said Ammons. “This legislation eases the financial burden utility bills are putting on our families now, and invests in energy production and storage to continue to lower utility bills in the future.”

Over the last year, many Illinois residents have grappled with untenable utility bill costs. Senate Bill 25, The Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act, 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.

Additionally, the measure will create up to 115,000 jobs, counteracting job insecurity and layoffs caused by federal cuts. As utility demands increase during the 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. 

“As Chair of the Energy & Environment Committee, sustainability is a priority for me, but not at the cost of the consumer. This legislation will allow us to ease utility costs and create job opportunities in our communities while reimaging how we collect and store renewable energy. Our new strategy will change how we approach energy across the state of Illinois.”

Senate Bill 25 was signed earlier today.