Letter Delivered to every Legislator (House Senate)

Oct. 20, 2025

Dear Members of the Illinois General Assembly,

The Illinois Industrial Energy Consumers (IIEC) requests you vote “NO” or “PRESENT” on the Energy Omnibus Bill during the Fall Veto Session.

In short, the current version of the Energy Omnibus is a multi-billion-dollar proposal, which:

Ø  Unnecessarily rushes implementation without sufficient consideration of the financial risk to utility rate payers as this legislation will not even take effect until June 1, 2026 and even then provides no immediate savings on their utility bills;

Ø  Mandates costly and unnecessary programs funded by ratepayers when other energy development incentive approaches are possible with further discussion;

Ø  Specifically mandates an increase in utility bills starting in 2026 and increases rate caps almost 40% in June 2027 while “hoped for” savings to ratepayers wouldn’t arrive until the mid to late 2030’s;

Ø  Creates a new centralized battery procurement plan further increasing utility bills over the next decade, specifically:

o   All 9 states with similar programs have higher energy rates than Illinois (See Chart 1);

o   The proponents’ own report projects higher utility costs through 2036 (See Chart 2); and

o   The bill’s battery storage program results in net costs to consumers, according to a report issued by the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) in May 2025;

Ø  Reduces job opportunities and increases operating costs for existing businesses and deters new companies looking to locate or expand in Illinois; and

Illinois ratepayers deserve a reliable, affordable, sustainable and equitable energy future, a future that this bill will not create.  Since this bill isn’t even effective until June 2026, a “NO” or “PRESENT” vote will give you the necessary time to fully consider this complex bill and possible alternatives to protect your hard-working constituents.

Now more than ever, the General Assembly needs to enact carefully vetted energy policies to promote sensible approaches to energy supply to bolster Illinois’ economy. This policy must balance sustainability with the affordable and reliable energy supply for a robust and thriving economy. 

The current Energy Omnibus proposal is not that sound energy policy, rather it is rushed legislation that will escalate utility bills.  It will not deliver the balance of energy reliability, affordability and sustainability that the ratepayers deserve.  Rather, the bill strips out consumer protections, creates new programs which drive up costs and drive down job growth, and does so at a time when electricity demand is expected to grow rapidly. 

Sincerely,

Phillip Golden

Chairman, Illinois Industrial Energy Consumers (IIEC)