Real leadership is required to ease electrical rate crisis

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We've written before about the symbiotic relationship between electrical utilities and customers. Each needs the other. Each benefits from the other. Each should be concerned about the other's well-being, financially and otherwise.

This utility-customer relationship seems to have been nearly forgotten as politicians, consumer advocates, utility spokesmen and irate homeowners and business owners bandy about their own solutions to high electrical bills that came about after a 10-year rate freeze imposed by the Legislature ended Jan. 1.

Rates were supposed to increase an average of 22 percent for ComEd's customers in the northern portion of the state, and up to 55 percent for Ameren's customers in the central and southern regions.

Here in ComEd land, those estimates have been fairly accurate, at least in our company's case. Sauk Valley Newspapers' electricity bill rose 20 percent in February compared with last year, and was 31 percent higher in March.

However, some of Ameren's customers farther downstate have been socked with bills much higher than predicted. A businesswoman from Benton in southern Illinois told the Associated Press the electricity bill at her store rose 125 percent, while at home it went up 204 percent. A Benton restaurant owner reported a 179 percent increase. A Marion school teacher's electricity bill went up 188 percent.

These cases may not be representative, but you have to feel for fellow Illinoisans facing such a predicament. Clearly, something must be done to rescue Ameren's customers from huge increases, and cushion ComEd's customers from higher bills that are sure to appear once hot weather arrives and people start using their air conditioners.

Solving the problem requires leadership at the highest levels of state government. The problem is, state leaders aren't providing it.

House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President Emil Jones are at odds. Jones stripped ComEd from an Ameren rate rollback and freeze bill that passed the Senate April 20 and was sent to the House. Madigan and his allies acted this past week to restore ComEd to the rate freeze bill.

Then there's Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Some in Illinois, including his lieutenant governor, Pat Quinn, want Blagojevich to show real leadership in this area, either by calling a special session of the Legislature to deal with the problem, or by convening an electricity summit of all concerned parties.

Blagojevich previously said he favored a rate freeze and would sign one if it passes the General Assembly, but he's unwilling to go any further, preferring instead for lawmakers to do all the heavy lifting.

There's been too much talk and not enough action. Reliable electrical power at a reasonable price that is fair to customers and utilities alike is not too much to ask. Blagojevich, Madigan and Jones need to put their differences aside, meet with utility companies and consumer advocates and forge a compromise.

State leaders can't keep twiddling their thumbs while Illinois electricity customers face financial devastation.