Most of us have opened our utility bills recently in utter shock.
Across downstate Illinois, I’m hearing the same concern from families, seniors, and small business owners and that’s utility bills that have doubled or even tripled in just months. People open their bills and immediately wonder, “How am I going to afford this?”
This didn’t happen by chance. It’s the result of policies that promised more than they could deliver.
In 2021, the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) was passed in Illinois with the goal of reaching 100 percent renewable energy by 2050 and a carbon-free power sector by 2045. Ambitious goals, yes, but today Illinois gets only about 14 percent of its electricity from renewables. That makes the 2025 benchmark of 25 percent impossible to meet.
Many warned what would happen if the state moved too quickly to shut down reliable, affordable power sources without a realistic backup plan. Unfortunately, those warnings have proven true.
This spring, Ameren Illinois received new rate results from the MISO grid operator. The cost to ensure power capacity skyrocketed from $30 to $666 per megawatt. That massive increase hit customers on June 1. It wasn’t a fluke—it was the predictable outcome of policies that put timelines ahead of practicality. Meanwhile, working families and small businesses are left holding the bag.
So, where do we go from here?
I’ve sponsored a package of bills designed to bring relief and restore balance to Illinois energy policy:
- Senate Bill 1234 creates the Illinois Regional Generation Reliability Task Force. This bipartisan, data-driven group would examine how CEJA and other energy laws are affecting electricity prices and grid reliability.
- Senate Bill 1235 rolls back CEJA’s forced 2045 shutdown of coal and gas plants and allows construction of new natural gas “peaker plants.” These facilities are essential to ensuring the lights stay on during extreme weather and peak demand. Wind and solar are important pieces of the future, but they cannot meet 24/7 demand alone right now.
- Senate Bill 1236 reforms the permitting process at the Illinois EPA. Projects like the Lincoln Land Energy Center have sat in limbo for more than a decade. Streamlining permits will help bring reliable power online faster.
Let me be clear: This isn’t about turning away from clean energy, it’s about being honest. Wind and solar may still play a big role in Illinois’ future, but today they cannot carry the entire load. Illinois must balance investment in renewables with the reliable power sources that keep our homes, schools, and businesses running every day without breaking the bank.
Illinois can still be a leader in energy innovation. But true leadership requires grounding policy in reality, not wishful thinking. It’s time to come together, acknowledge the unintended consequences of past decisions, and make the adjustments needed to ensure our energy system is dependable and affordable.
That’s the future I’ll keep working toward on behalf of the families, seniors, and businesses across our state. If you agree, please consider signing your name today to show support for these bills and demand action from the legislature on utility bill relief. (https://senatorericaharriss.com/lowerutilitybill/)
