Consider the Full Impact of Energy Legislation

Exelon hopes Illinois lawmakers will approve sweeping legislative changes to regional energy markets that would increase corporate – profits to the tune of billions annually in increased costs for Illinois consumers and businesses.

Exelon’s bill (SB 660 / HB 2861) would carve out the ComEd service region from 13-state plus District of Columbia PJM capacity auction process, shifting to a costly, non-competitive capacity construct.  Non-market capacity procurement can dramatically increase the costs for consumers based on current PJM capacity rules, that require open and competitive capacity auction process.  Illinois consumers would be denied affordable reliability protections provided through the annual competitive bid process in the PJM capacity auction.

PJM rules currently allow for capacity to be procured outside the capacity market construct in a manner that limits access to the full range of lower cost resources.  Why do only some utilities use it? To attempt to hide the far higher cost that consumers will pay in a non-competitive market by choosing only “preferred” resources and not having access to lower cost resources. 

A fair and open competitive market keeps energy producers at the top of their game. They know they must have the best quality energy product, provided reliably and safely, at an affordable cost, or someone else will replace them.

With Illinois’ significant energy needs in its residential, industrial and commercial markets, policymakers should embrace legislation that preserves the competitive markets to keep energy production as close to home as possible, with all of the competitive market benefits: reliable, safe power at the right price.

Download the factsheets to learn more about the different initiatives:

• Learn more about the energy industry's efforts to stop harmful legislation that would reduce access to reliable power in Illinois.
  EPSA Fact Sheet

• Illinois residents need safe, reliable and climate friendly energy and NRG has a plan. Download CCEA Fact Sheet and learn more.
  CCEA Fact Sheet

NRG’s power plants generate 4,200 MW of electricity to ensure consumers have access to low cost electricity in the ComEd region.  NRG’s power plants ensure reliable electricity is available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

NRG is a partner in addressing climate change, having reduced greenhouse gas emissions from 23 million metric tons in 2014 to 8 million metric tons in 2018.

NRG joins Governor Pritzker in advancing clean energy goals in Illinois.  NRG’s Competitive Clean Energy Act sets annual targets to eliminate greenhouse gas emission from Illinois’ energy supply by 2050.  The Act provides a clear, verifiable path to achieve this goal, while protecting consumers and promoting jobs.

The Act harnesses the power of competitive wholesale energy markets, establishing a market for clean energy generation and delivering energy savings where all sources of zero-carbon generation are put on a level playing field.  This will ensure greater reliability and low costs for electricity consumers while also facilitating funding to develop new clean sources of energy.

The table below conveys how the Competitive Clean Energy Act would replace current mandated levels of Clean Resources with a uniform and higher annual goal.  The Act would procure clean energy credits similar to renewable energy credits, the equivalent of one mega-watt hour of carbon free energy generation used to comply with the Renewable Portfolio Standard.

Illinois Energy Cleaner, Cheaper, Faster

All sources of zero emission energy generation are eligible to compete, including renewable energy and nuclear. The Act creates a pathway to incentivize new development and maintain existing clean energy generation. Allows businesses and municipalities to voluntarily buy clean energy above state goals.

Learn from NRG Energy plant employees first-hand the positive impact working for NRG has had on them and the ongoing positive impact NRG, its plants, and employees have on the communities around them.

• “Clean energy legislation appears unlikely to advance” By Jerry Nowicki, published on the Daily Herald

• “Riding clean energy on the road to Success” by Dave Dahl, published on WJBC

• “Gov. J.B. Pritzker doesn't anticipate broad energy plan coming together during fall session” by Greg Bishop, published on the The Center Square

• “Hoping to nudge Exelon aside” published on Newsradio WTAX

• “How States, Cities, and Customers Can Harness Competitive Markets to Meet Ambitious Carbon Goals” prepared for NRG Energy Inc. by The Brattle Group: Kathleen Spees, Samuel A. Newell, Walter Graf, and Emily Shorin