At a rate akin to warp speed for the Illinois General Assembly, both chambers approved smart grid legislation last week during the fall Veto Session by more than 60 percent, ensuring that Governor Pat Quinn cannot exercise his veto powers. Quinn had threatened to veto the legislation that was strongly supported by ComEd and Ameren. That would have been big news by itself. But later in the week, it was revealed that there may have been unethical activity involved in the process.
Governor Quinn alleges that votes to approve the bill were improperly cast in the Illinois House. Quinn claims that as many as 18 House members were called off the floor during one of the Smart Grid bill votes and those legislators’ voting buttons were pressed by either staffers or other legislators in support of the Smart Grid bill. On Friday, the Office of the Legislative Inspector Generalagreed to open an official inquiry into the allegations. But, because the bill was passed by a 91-24 margin and only seven of the votes were expected to have voted against the measure, the 71 vote veto-proof margin would have probably still been met. The burden of proof for the allegation to be a breach of state ethics law would require “malicious intent” by the entities that voted for the absent legislators. It should be noted that this type of proxy voting by staffers and “seat mates” is actually a standard practice in the Illinois General Assembly when an individual legislator’s preference is known on a particular bill.
In terms of background, Smart Grid is catch-phrase used describe digital information technology infusions throughout the grid to end-user process of delivering electricity. It can include:
- Smart electricity meters that automatically transmit time-of-use prices to consumers;
- Electronic sensors on appliances;
- Controls to reduce or possibly eliminate power outages; and
- Benefits that can support the use of solar power in buildings and making hybrid/electric automobiles more utile.
There are currently no national smart grid standards. But, advancement of the concept was supported with $4.5 billion in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
In April 2009, the Chicago-based Center of Neighborhood Technology issued a report through its Illinois Smart Grid Initiative report entitled Empowering Consumers Through a Modern Electric Grid. It stated that, “a smart grid can fundamentally improve reliability and efficiency, integrate renewable energy on the local level, and empower consumers to take charge of and reduce their electricity bills – while saving energy and reducing carbon emissions.” It also stated that “public and private investment in energy efficient smart grids can open the door to new green power, high-tech business opportunities in communities throughout the state.”
Although smart grid investments have general support, as is typical, it became controversial when it entered the realm of the Illinois Statehouse. The crux of the debate was that the Illinois Smart Grid bill would guarantee financially attractive rates of return for ComEd and Ameren and force their customers’ electricity bills to respectively rise $36 and $40 a year starting in June of 2012. Governor Quinn also alleged that ComEd and Ameren lobbyists flooded legislators with campaign contributions to solicit their support.
From a larger perspective, the fast, veto-proof passage of the Smart Grid bill may signal a trend in the legislature’s relationship with Quinn for the balance of the current Veto Session. It may be telegraphing what will happen on issues such as casino gaming, pension reform, short-term-borrowing and incentive packages for Sears and the CME Group. The Veto Session is slated to resume on November 8th and end on November 10th.
Comments