(SEIA) SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – On October 14th, lawmakers, consumer advocates, and renewable energy industry members joined a broad coalition of organizations urging immediate passage of the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability (CRGA) Act during the fall veto session. This legislation responds to the urgent need to address skyrocketing costs of electricity for consumers and businesses. If the CRGA Act passes, it would deliver $34 billion in savings to ratepayers over the next 20 years according to a recent study and provide a critical solution to reverse record-breaking annual energy price increases.
“Simply put, we must pass the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act and we must pass it now. The cost of doing nothing is what Illinois ratepayers are paying, and every day we wait guarantees more consumer and business pain in the future,” said Jeff Danielson, SVP of Advocacy, Clean Grid Alliance. “If enacted, this bill would direct the state to invest in solutions that promote the stability and reliability of our grid while lowering costs for consumers.”
“CRGA invests in the Illinois power grid by supporting clean energy storage, expanding energy efficiency programs, and creating the pathway to set up virtual power plants that pool energy from already-built sources like solar, storage or EVs,” said Illinois State Representative Ann Williams, 11th District. “This bill gives us the quickest and most cost-effective path out of the energy crisis we are experiencing – our constituents, our environment, and economy rely on solutions like this bill.”
CRGA would provide relief to consumers across Illinois whose bills have spiked as much as 50% since last summer, and whose bills will continue to rise following the results of the 2026/2027 PJM capacity auction. If passed, CRGA would create an energy storage program, Virtual Power Plant program, and other policies geared towards shoring up Illinois’ available electricity supply to meet record demand. By addressing the heart of power demand problems facing Illinois’s grid through deployment of storage, a Virtual Power Plant program, and improving planning, the CRGA Act will make a concrete difference for the state’s energy future.
“Electricity demand is rising quickly in Illinois, and federal government policies are creating an energy supply crisis by making it harder to build wind, solar, and storage resources – the cheapest and fastest new supply. Illinois lawmakers need to respond by passing the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act,” said Samarth Medakkar, Policy Principal, Advanced Energy United. “This bill will help protect ratepayers and the businesses which Illinois has attracted with its existing strong advanced energy policy.”
The legislation creates $34 billion in net savings on Illinois energy bills over 20 years, according to an analysis by The Power Bureau, and is expected to save consumers up to $20.54/month according to the Illinois Power Agency. This would mitigate the price spikes that have hit businesses and families hard and will continue to do so if legislators fail to act this fall.
“Federal policies and red tape are threatening years of historic growth in solar jobs, businesses, and economic activity across Illinois. Now the state legislature has a great opportunity to strengthen the grid, protect against fast-rising energy prices, and build on the state’s legacy of clean energy leadership,” said Andrew Linhares, Central Region Senior Manager, Solar Energy Industries Association. “The Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act will lower energy prices for Illinois families, strengthen grid reliability, and send a clear signal that the state is open for business.”
Numerous studies and real-world experience in states like Texas and California have proven that energy storage stabilizes the grid and saves consumers and businesses billions of dollars. Battery storage in particular is the quickest, easiest-to-deploy and most cost-effective way to deploy new power resources onto the grid quickly, complementing wind and solar resources during times of peak demand.
“At a moment when people are choosing between paying energy bills or groceries, Illinois legislators can pass common-sense legislation that will lower energy prices in the short and long term, putting money back in the pockets of ratepayers,” said Stephanie Burgos-Veras, Senior Manager of Equity Programs, Coalition for Community Solar Access. “The Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act is the fastest and most cost-effective pathway to lower energy bills. The longer Illinois waits to enact a solution, the higher energy prices will go, and that is not something Illinois families can afford.”
“Illinois families and businesses are feeling the pain of higher costs of living and historic energy prices, and they are letting their legislators know. The Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act is the only solution proposed that will lower energy prices for all Illinois ratepayers while investing in the future of the Illinois power grid,” said Lesley McCain, Executive Director, Illinois Solar Energy and Storage Association. “It will encourage the implementation of proven technologies while building upon the progress we’ve made as a state and optimizing our existing infrastructure. The legislation is ready to go and voting yes for the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act is a vote to lower Illinois energy prices, stimulate the Illinois economy, and create high-quality jobs for Illinois.”
The Illinois legislature is set to vote on the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act during the first week of the fall veto session. You can learn more about energy storage at this link.
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