Electric companies amongst major donors in IL “smart-grid” battle

Network partner Illinois Campaign for Political Reform has compiled a record of campaign contributions relating to Illinois’ “smart-grid” bill, and released these findings in the wake of a veto-override by the state legislature. The override last week allowed the bill to become law.

The new law would allow utility companies to raise rates without the approval of state regulators, which had been required before. Over the last ten months, supporters of the “smart-grid” legislation outspent opponents by a rate of 4-1. Utility companies spent over $850,000 to legislative campaign committees, while opponents spent $185,000.

A total of 110 legislators voted to overturn Governor Pat Quinn’s veto of the “smart-grid” bill. Those legislators, in 2011 alone, received an average of $7,616 in contributions from the electric industry and $2,178 on average from groups opposing the bill. Exelon/ComEd and Ameren were the largest donors in support of “smart-grid,” while SEIU Health Care spent the most amongst opponents of the bill.

Download the full report at Illinois Campaign for Political Reform’s website.