Briel-Backed Legislation to Address Rising Energy Costs Signed Into Law

OTTAWA, IL — New legislation signed into law on Thursday will provide Illinoisans immediate and long-term utility bill relief by bringing down energy costs, thanks to legislation supported by state Rep. Amy “Murri” Briel, D-Ottawa. 

“I’m relieved that this measure has been put into place so our working families can have peace of mind,” Briel said. “Illinoisans have been increasingly concerned about how they’re going to pay their bills with all of these rising costs—from gas to groceries to utilities. Energy has especially been a concern as new data centers threaten our power supply here at home. This new law is a no-fuss move to strengthen our grid, be environmentally savvy, and keep money in Illinois families’ pockets.” 

 

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.

 

“By making energy more efficient, we’ve also worked to make it more reliable, which is important considering we’re dependent on using light and heat—especially in these cold winter months.”

 

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.