© 2025 St. Louis Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Amid orders to cut funding for public media, here’s what you can do to help.
Other

Blagojevich signs electric rate relief but says it's not enough

Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
(UPI)
Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

By AP/KWMU

DuQuoin, Ill. – Governor Rod Blagojevich says the $1 billion relief package he signed
into law Tuesday doesn't go far enough but it's better than nothing.

The measure is aimed at soaring electric rates, and it ends a yearlong tug of war between the needs of consumers and power companies.

The package softens the blow consumers felt from rates that spiked at the beginning of the year, following a 10-year rate freeze. It rolls back about half of those increases through rebate checks to Ameren customers, ensuring all of them at least $100.

And ComEd customers will get bill credits.

The governor calls it a "good step forward" but says it isn't a perfect solution.

The plan doesn't block rates from rising again over the next several years.

Other