Gov. Blagojevich said Tuesday that ComEd should be part of any electric rate freeze measure passed by lawmakers, who have been battling over which utilities to include in legislation that could provide rate relief to consumers.
Meanwhile, lawmakers showed signs of trying to end a long-running political stalemate on the issue at the Capitol on Tuesday.
There are competing approaches in Springfield about how lawmakers should structure a measure to ease the burden on consumers — especially those in southern Illinois — who have shouldered higher electric bills since a 10-year freeze on rates expired at the end of last year.
House Speaker Michael Madigan favors statewide relief that would impose a freeze on Ameren and ComEd. Senate President Emil Jones opposes a freeze, but if there is one, he wants to exclude ComEd, a longtime ally. What Madigan and Jones want matters because they decide which bills are considered.
In Springfield, key lawmakers said Tuesday that top House and Senate leaders were meeting to discuss a compromise.
Madigan spokesman Steve Brown said Madigan and Jones met Tuesday and decided to meet again Wednesday with a “broader group of people.”
He said he assumed a rate freeze was on the negotiating table but didn’t know if talks were limited to just short-term ideas.
Blagojevich has largely remained on the sidelines in the debate, but he has urged legislators to send him a rate freeze bill.
After the 10-year freeze expired, rates were supposed to go up on average between 22 percent and 55 percent. But in some cases, especially in southern Illinois, bills have doubled or tripled.
