East Central Reporter

Illinois lawmakers are debating rising energy costs as residents and businesses across the state report significant increases in electric bills. The Illinois Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee held a public hearing on August 18, 2025, to address these concerns.

Some House Republicans criticized the timing of the hearing, noting that three months earlier, they had requested immediate bipartisan hearings about expected energy price spikes and shortages but were ignored. They say their proposed legislation to expand energy production was not considered.

Republicans argue that Illinois should be an energy leader due to its nuclear power capacity and coal reserves. However, they claim that recent policies under Governor J.B. Pritzker have turned Illinois into a net importer of electricity. The Clean and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), passed in 2021, is cited by critics as contributing to higher prices by shutting down coal and natural gas suppliers while demand for electricity rises with new data centers.

According to some Republican lawmakers, Democratic plans focus too heavily on subsidized wind and solar farms supported by expensive grid-scale batteries, which they believe will further raise costs and destabilize the power grid.

The subject of Monday’s committee hearing was “New Federal Energy Policy and Increasing Summer Rates.” Some Republicans voiced concern that this would be used as an opportunity for Governor Pritzker to shift blame onto former President Trump rather than addressing what they see as failures of current state policy.

“The Biden-Harris administration, as well as the Pritzker administration, have a severe case of Trump derangement syndrome, and they’re trying to blame our current president for the mess they created,” said Rep. Chris Miller.

Miller also stated: “We have over 200 billion tons of big, beautiful coal available. All we have to do is go get it. It would be a tremendous driver for jobs and opportunity. This whole CEJA thing, this whole green energy scam needs to be thrown in the garbage where it belongs.”

Electricity rates from ComEd reportedly increased by 53%, while Ameren Illinois’ rates rose by 47%, according to Energy Professionals (source). Statewide average electric bills for families and businesses are up between 20%–40% this summer.

At a recent press conference with State Rep Brad Halbrook and local business owner Ryan Garrett of Villa Grove’s emBARas bar & grill, Miller highlighted a one-month surge in Garrett’s electric bill exceeding 60%. Miller said Republicans warned about such increases four years ago when Gov. Pritzker’s green energy policies were enacted.

Conservative House Republicans continue calling for repeal of clean energy laws in favor of restoring coal-fired generation on the grid.

Rep. Chris Miller was elected in 2023 as a Republican representing Illinois' 101st House District (source).

Other issues raised include concerns about universal mental health screenings in schools starting in the 2026–27 school year; ongoing debate over redistricting maps; law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities; education standards; subsidies for electric vehicle battery manufacturers; and local opportunities for family activities during summer.