ComEd can raise rates

SPRINGFIELD — Average ComEd customers will pay almost $38 more a year for the delivery of electricity after top state regulators awarded the utility with a rate increase far less than it asked for.

The Illinois Commerce Commission said Tuesday ComEd could collect $155.7 million more from its customers. That would amount to $3.15 more on an average customer’s monthly bill. Bigger electricity users would pay more.

The increase was far less than the ComEd proposal of $326 million, but opponents argued the company shouldn’t have received anything.

Ada Steenken, a retired Loyola University executive secretary, told commissioners she has seen too many families lose power because they could not make payments or who have to choose between food and electricity.

“For thousands of us, there is nothing left of the money we earn,” she said.

Commissioner Erin O’Connell-Diaz said she sympathized with those who oppose an increase, but said months of debate and analysis fairly balanced ComEd’s needs with the public good.

“It’s a balancing act,” she said. “We can’t just say no.”

While the ICC did not reject ComEd outright, the Citizens Utility Board plans to appeal the decision in hopes of getting the increase repealed. The organization argues ComEd actually owes customers money.

“Although ComEd’s requested rate hike was cut in half, the company actually owed its customers a $40 million rate cut,” CUB officials said in a written statement. “This is the worst time for an increase.”

But ComEd defended its first increase in three years, saying it needs to recoup costs it has invested in efficiencies over that time. But if the company wants to implement a $2.6 billion smart grid over the next 10 years, officials say rate increases will need to be more frequent and easy to obtain.

“The current regulatory model creates challenges for ComEd and its ability to plan for the future, modernize the system and deploy forward-looking and innovative technology that will improve reliability and customer service,” the company said in a news release.