SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The Senate has again approved a plan to address so-called Smart Grid technology over the objection of Gov. Pat Quinn.
Senators voted 44-11 Tuesday to override Quinn’s veto earlier this month. Quinn claimed the bill undermined oversight and would force automatic rate hikes.
Senate President John Cullerton disputed those claims. A three-fifths majority was needed. It now heads to the House.
ComEd pushed the bill as a way to clarify 2011 legislation allowing utilities to raise rates to fund a high-tech system. But executing it has been tricky.
The Illinois Commerce Commission and ComEd disagreed over implementation. ComEd filed a court appeal over technical matters and faces a class-action lawsuit over installation delays.
The proposal clarifies some of those issues and hastens installation.
