By Illinois Public Radio
Springfield, Ill. – Illinois legislators, consumer advocates and electric companies may have reached agreement on reducing power rates.
Many Ameren customers in southern and central Illinois have been waiting for relief since January when electric bills spiked after a decade-long rate freeze.
An agreement has supposedly been close for weeks, but now Democratic Senator James Clayborne of Belleville says one is imminent.
"Hopefully we have put something on the table that will give people certainty in their lives and help them phase this increase in over a period of time where they can make it affordable," Clayborne said.
Clayborne says he expects legislation could be voted on in the General Assembly later this week.
He would not provide details but says the end package would give billion dollars of relief this year through 2009.