Illinois Holdem Power Poker

It’s a high stakes media game this week as Ameren and the Illinois legislature play poker with the energy supply system of 390,000 electric customers in 576 communities in Illinois. (See service area map).

The Illinois Senate Environment and Energy Committee showed their hand Wednesday by unanimously voting to extend the electric rate increase proposed in House Bill 1750. The freeze would be extended only six months to allow time to craft better solutions for Illinois.

Ameren has raised the bet by issuing a news release in which the company threatens to take the following punitive measures. A careful read of the threats would indicate that they primarily affect their employees, low income residents of Illinois, and those having the most difficulty paying the high electric bills of the company. Way to stick it to the little guy, Ameren!

• Immediate steps would be taken to lay off employees
• Nearly all of the companies' contractors would be laid off
• Reliability projects, including tree trimming, would be postponed
• Connections for new homes and businesses would be delayed
• Response to customer calls would stretch from seconds today to many minutes
• Elimination of the proposed $20 million customer credit, primarily for the relief of residential electric heat customer
• Elimination of the zero-percent interest Customer Elect Plan (CEP) for phasing in higher electricity rates
• Elimination of the zero-percent deferral assistance program for certain non-residential customers
• Elimination of the $15 million pledged for energy assistance, energy efficiency programs and aid for low-income customers; and all community donations and projects would be discontinued.

Will the full Illinois Senate fold, call or raise the bet in this game of power poker?