Some members of the Ill. General Assembly said a bill that would raise electric rates might have enough support to override Ill. Gov. Pat Quinn’s veto.

Quinn vetoed the bill Sept. 12. The bill would raise electric rates by updating the technology and infrastructure of Illinois’ electrical grids.

One of these technological updates was to install smart grids around Illinois. Smart grids will make power outages easier to assess and respond to, said state Rep. Robert Pritchard (R-Hinckley). It will allow consumers to utilize renewable energy sources and electricity rates will fluctuate throughout the day which will allow consumers to monitor their power usage and only use power when the rates are cheapest.

However, Quinn said the positives of the bill do not outweigh the negatives.

“We can ensure innovation and investment in our electric grid, and create new jobs, without compromising core safeguards for Illinois consumers,” Quinn said in a press release.

Pritchard said the rate increases are warranted because ComEd is putting $3 billion of its own money into the bill.

Bennie Currie, ComEd’s senior communications manager, said the bill will also create a number of new jobs in Illinois.

“It is a jobs bill, an economic development bill, an environmental bill, a consumer benefits bill, a regulatory reform bill and an infrastructure bill,” Currie said. “It is supported by an extraordinary cross-section of business groups, labor unions, environmental organizations, high-tech advocates and green tech entrepreneurs.”

While the bill would increase electricity rates by 2.5 percent each year for five years, Pritchard said it would not actually cost consumers any more money and would allow them greater control over their utility rates.

“It allows citizens to use renewable energy sources as well as Com-Ed’s energy, and if consumers have an excess amount of energy at the end of the month they can sell it back to ComEd. This means rates may not go up for consumers if they are vigilant as to how and when they use their energy,” Pritchard said.

One of the areas of argument is that ComEd is attempting to raise its rates without the approval of the Illinois Commerce Commission.

“Some people fear that this will make ComEd unregulated. This is not true,” Pritchard said. “There are safeguards in place that are outlined in the bill and if they do not follow these safeguards the bill will go away.”

Some of the safeguards Pritchard mentioned include not raising rates beyond what the bill states or for longer than the bill states.

But for those opposed, these safeguards are not enough.

“More than 1.5 million people and businesses have had to deal with power outages and services disruptions this summer,” Quinn said in a press release. “Now these same utilities are trying to change the rules to guarantee themselves annual rate increases and eliminate accountability.”

However, Pritchard maintains that this bill is a step in the right direction for the long-term success of the state.

“With this bill we will be really improving our technology as well as our infrastructure,” Pritchard said. “There was a lot of give and take from both sides and compromises were reached for this bill.”