ComEd, Rauner on board with complex plan to raise rates, bail out nuclear plants

[TexasTowelie]

As lawmakers prepare to wrap up the fall session, Exelon and ComEd on Wednesday announced an agreement with Gov. Bruce Rauner to raise rates on consumers to help two struggling nuclear power plants.

The last-minute attempt to resolve the long-festering electricity issue came on a day the Republican governor and Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan continued to try to position the other guy to take the blame over the lack of a state budget.

All of which sets up the prospect of lawmakers going home for the year on Thursday after voting to bail out the power companies but failing to approve a state budget. A temporary spending plan to keep universities and social service programs afloat is set to expire come January.

While Exelon and subsidiary ComEd issued a news release that profusely thanked Rauner for his office's "input" on the "historic energy bill," no floor votes were taken Wednesday. Democrats want assurances that Republicans will put up some votes to pass the bill, which would raise rates to prevent the closure of plants in Downstate Clinton and the Quad Cities.

Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-rauner-madigan-illinois-comed-exelon-deal-met-1201-20161130-story.html

[HassleCat]

1. Too cheap to meter

That was the promise for nuclear electricity.