Canty Energy Reform to Cut Utility Bills, Capture More Clean Energy, Create Jobs, Signed into Law

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. — Comprehensive legislation to bring down home energy bills, hold large utility corporations accountable and create jobs that state Rep. Mary Beth Canty, D-Arlington Heights, passed last fall was signed into law today, marking a victory in her efforts to cut the cost of living.

“Illinoisans deserve better than bloated utility bills that further raise the cost-of-living, especially at a time when we have Donald Trump in the White House making life harder on everyone in this country,” Canty said. “Investing in a stable clean energy future while continuing to slash utility bills and create up to 100,000 jobs; these are the things that the people of Illinois sent us to Springfield to do.”

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 expenses. The Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act (Senate Bill 25) puts Illinois on better footing to counteract rising energy prices.

• • Capturing clean energy: By capturing and redistributing energy already being produced, including from home solar panels, ComEd customers can see substantial 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: By directly expanding energy efficiency programs for residents, Senate Bill 25 lowers 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 100,000 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 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. 

“Broadly speaking, the role of a lawmaker is to create policies that make all our constituents’ lives easier—now and in the future,” Canty said. “When people get lower utility bills in the mail every month, their lives get easier. When they don’t have to prepare for the possibility of blackouts, like many in other states do, their lives get easier. When new good-paying job opportunities spring up, their lives get easier. This bill is a step toward those goals, and I’m going to continue to fight for more like it.”