A Decade Later: Change Reaps Benefits to Electric Consumers

A celebration of sorts is underway as businesses in Illinois note the positive change and successful results that have emerged since the state’s General Assembly passed legislation opening electric markets to competition a decade ago. In a letter to the editor in the Daily Herald, Tom Wolf, director of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce’s Energy Council, said that businesses are reaping the benefits of a competitive marketplace with competition spawning a new industry and creating new opportunities.

Wolf notes just how far competition has come in the past decade. There are 37 licensed competitive electricity suppliers in the state and more than half of all kilowatts consumed in Illinois are being sold by a company other than the incumbent utility.

Competition in Illinois may no longer be limited to businesses. State Rep. Thomas Holbrook, D-Belleville, thinks downstate Illinois is on the verge of seeing residential competition.

"Do I think it's going to happen? Yes," said Holbrook, chair of the House Energy and Environment committee and vice chair of the Public Utilities Committee."Do I think it's going to happen in the near future? Yes. I think in the next six months to a year, you're going to see some movement."

Holbrook was a co-sponsor of two bills in 2007 that were specifically aimed at encouraging electric suppliers to offer service to residential and small business customers, not just big commercial and industrial customers.

On residential competition, Wolf added, “Electricity competition has served Illinois businesses well and it will get to the residential market before we know it. And when it does, that will be another anniversary worth celebrating.”

Joel Malina | November 18, 2009