An Illinois Legislature committee has taken action that puts a pair of the state's electric utilities closer to receiving two more years of automatic rate hikes.
The Illinois Senate Executive Committee on Tuesday voted 12-1 on a measure involving Ameren Illinois and Commonwealth Edison. The utilities want to avoid legislative oversight until 2019 on upgrades to the state's aging electric grid.
The law currently says the "smart grid" oversight program should end in 2017. The law also gives the utilities the ability to raise rates to pay for upgrades.
Ameren says it has taken longer than expected to install digital electric meters and make other improvements. Labor unions, like the AFL-CIO, also say they support the extension.
