Davis-Backed Clean and Reliable Grid Act to Reduce Energy Costs and Provide Long-Term Relief

HOMEWOOD, Ill – Working to provide more relief to Illinoisans facing rising energy costs, State Rep. William “Will” Davis, D-Homewood, passed the Clean and Reliable Grid Act (CRGA) that will help bring down home energy bills immediately and provide long-term relief for residents.

“Across the state, rising energy bills have been a serious concern for Illinois families,” said Davis. “This Act will provide people with immediate relief while also creating the foundation to advance the Illinois power grid, bringing long-term relief to people across the state.”

Beginning this year, utility customers in Northern Illinois will receive a monthly Carbon Mitigation Credit, which will reduce home energy costs by up to $11 every month. Alongside providing customer savings, CRGA will include major innovations to generate and store energy and bring down costs even further, including:

• Capturing clean energy: By capturing and redistributing energy already being produced, including from home solar panels, 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: This law will directly expand energy efficiency programs for residents, lowering electricity prices by reducing overall demand.

This law is estimated to create up to 115,000 jobs, with many of them going to equitable energy contractors. CRGA requires that grid-scale storage projects meet labor and equity standards that ensure historically disadvantaged communities can benefit from these new jobs. It will also fund technical assistance to help small and disadvantaged businesses comply with Project Labor Agreement requirements.

“The Clean and Reliable Grid Act will help families across the state, including here in my district,” said Davis. “Not only will it reduce energy costs, but clean energy innovations will be expanded, and jobs will be created. This is a major win in the fight to provide people with affordable clean energy.”