ComEd is working to change how it bills for electricity use.
They want to charge customers based on how much energy they use when demand is high, rather than what they use overall. A group of Chicago politicians signed on to a letter with various groups opposing the plan. This includes the Illinois Public Interest Research Group. PIRG President Abe Scarr says it confuses customers.
"We'd be sending a price signal to consumers that wouldn't actually improve our overall system," he said. "It wouldn't reduce costs for the consumers, it wouldn't reduce the negative impacts on our environment that our current electricity system imposes. So it's a little bit of a bait and switch here."
The letter from Chicago alderman and mayoral-runner up Jesús “Chury” Garcia could influence state legislators whose support is needed to approve the change. Negotiations are ongoing.
ComEd did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
