ComEd electric customers brace for double-digit spike in bills

ComEd electric customers in Illinois are bracing for at least a 12% jump in monthly charges starting in June. This increase is primarily attributed to the high demand for electricity from over 80 existing and 75 proposed data centers in Northern Illinois, which are fueling artificial intelligence applications. A consumer credit related to nuclear and renewable energy is also expiring, contributing to the higher rates. PJM Interconnection, the multistate grid operator, sets the prices ComEd pays for electricity, and these prices are rising due to anticipated demand. Governor JB Pritzker has previously criticized PJM's pricing. Environmental and advocacy groups, including Madeline Semanisin of the Natural Resources Defense Council and Jennifer Walling of the Illinois Environmental Council, are expressing concerns over the strain on power grids and the significant water usage for cooling. They highlight the current lack of regulatory 'guardrails' and transparency in local government development deals with tech companies. Lawmakers in Springfield are currently considering a bill aimed at increasing oversight and transparency for data center growth. The utility, ComEd, emphasizes that it does not generate electricity and therefore does not control or profit from the rising power generation costs, which are driven by market demand and PJM's pricing.