{"id":44236,"date":"2025-12-11T09:39:52","date_gmt":"2025-12-11T15:39:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/?p=44236"},"modified":"2025-12-11T09:39:52","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T15:39:52","slug":"cub-comed-taking-advantage-of-ongoing-billing-problems-to-push-for-million-in-higher-delivery-rates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/blog\/2025\/12\/11\/cub-comed-taking-advantage-of-ongoing-billing-problems-to-push-for-million-in-higher-delivery-rates\/","title":{"rendered":"CUB: ComEd taking advantage of ongoing billing problems to push for million in higher delivery rates"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Nearly two years after Commonwealth Edison botched its launch of a new billing system, the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) said it hopes to block Illinois\u2019 biggest<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-26543 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/electric-bill-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/electric-bill-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/electric-bill-391x260.jpg 391w, https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/electric-bill-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/electric-bill.jpg 700w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/> electric utility from making customers, and not shareholders, cover nearly $50 million in spending to fix the ongoing problems. (Read the full version of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/20251210-ComEd-Reconciliation-Case-News-Release_Final.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>CUB&#8217;s news release<\/strong><\/a> from Wednesday, Dec. 10.)<\/p>\n<p>The utility watchdog made its argument as it challenges ComEd\u2019s push to increase delivery rates by a total of $268.5 million by the end of the year. The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) last year approved a four-year rate plan for ComEd, but a provision in state regulatory law allows ComEd to petition (<strong><u><a href=\"https:\/\/www.icc.illinois.gov\/docket\/P2025-0383\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Docket 25-0383<\/a><\/u><\/strong>) the ICC for higher rates in yearly \u201creconciliation\u201d cases. A portion of the increase is to make up for higher rates that were approved earlier but had not yet been put in place\u2013however, tens of millions more are to recover excess spending for ComEd going over budget on capital expenditures.<\/p>\n<p>CUB filed testimony arguing that tucked away in ComEd\u2019s reconciliation rate-hike plan is an attempt by the utility to improperly win millions of dollars a year in higher rates in connection to problems\u2013billing delays, overcharges and other errors\u2013ComEd customers have experienced since the utility launched its new system in February of 2024. According to the testimony, the improper charges include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>$9.3 million a year in higher rates to recover $49 million in spending to fix the billing system, about which CUB is still hearing consumer complaints. \u201cIt\u2019s ridiculous for ComEd to try to raise our rates in connection with billing problems the utility giant created itself,\u201d CUB Executive Director Sarah Moskowitz said. \u201dCustomers shouldn\u2019t pay higher rates for ComEd\u2019s incompetence.\u201d<\/li>\n<li>CUB argued the billing problems also came into play in two instances where ComEd is seeking performance bonus payment, under the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), that the utility has not earned, including:\n<ul>\n<li>A $5.8 million incentive payment for reducing disconnections in certain lower-income ZIP codes. Under an order approving these performance incentive metrics, the ICC adopted a requirement proposed by CUB that the utility cannot collect this bonus for simply delaying disconnections. CUB argued the disconnection reductions were not due to improved affordability or customer assistance but to the fact that ComEd\u2019s error-prone billing system prevented it from disconnecting customers for nonpayment for most of 2024.<\/li>\n<li>A $3.5 million incentive payment ComEd argues it deserves for hitting a performance-metric target for customer service. CUB argued ComEd cannot claim this bonus because, amid the billing-system problems, the utility lost the data necessary to prove its claimed improvement.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u201cShame on ComEd,\u201d Moskowitz said. \u201cThe utility shouldn\u2019t benefit from its own failures.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>ComEd has had a number of run-ins with the ICC since its corruption scandal erupted in 2020. In 2022, state regulators ordered ComEd to pay a $38 million fine in connection with the scandal. (ComEd was fined $200 million by federal authorities in 2020, after admitting to a bribery scheme to pass legislation that implemented a \u201cformula rate\u201d system and hundreds of millions of dollars in rate hikes over a decade.)<\/p>\n<p>In December of 2023, under a new, four-year rate-setting system, the ICC rejected the utility\u2019s first proposed grid plan for, among other things, failing to prove affordability, and slashed its proposed rate hike by about $1 billion. ComEd refiled its grid plan, and in 2024 won $606 million in rate hikes, spread out through 2027. Now, it\u2019s asking for a $268.5 million increase in the reconciliation process:\u00a0 \u201cWe support ending this reconciliation benefit for utilities,\u201d Moskowitz said. \u201cIf ComEd blows through its budget in a given year, customers shouldn\u2019t have to pay the excess.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In early November, two regulatory judges issued a \u201cproposed order\u201d in the case\u2013which is their recommendation on how the ICC should rule. The proposed order backed about $16.4 million in reductions for ComEd, and largely agreed with consumer advocates about the items connected to the billing system.<\/p>\n<p>CUB hopes the ICC follows those recommendations, and goes even further in the final order, expected no later than Dec. 20, with rates taking effect shortly after. CUB urged consumers to sign a <strong><u><a href=\"https:\/\/secure.everyaction.com\/4_Zs_zZto065PiGrqBU-_g2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">petition against ComEd\u2019s wasteful spending<\/a><\/u><\/strong> or to call the ICC, at 1-800-524-0795.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Nearly two years after Commonwealth Edison botched its launch of a new billing system, the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) said it hopes to block Illinois\u2019 biggest electric utility from making customers, and not shareholders, cover nearly $50 million in spending to fix the ongoing problems. (Read the full version of CUB&#8217;s news release from Wednesday, Dec. 10.) The utility watchdog made its argument as it challenges ComEd\u2019s push to increase delivery rates by a total of $268.5 million by the end of the year. The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) last year approved a four-year rate plan for ComEd, but a provision in state regulatory law allows ComEd to petition (Docket 25-0383) the ICC for higher rates in yearly \u201creconciliation\u201d cases. A portion of the increase is to make up for higher rates that were approved earlier but had not yet been put in place\u2013however, tens of millions more are to recover excess spending for ComEd going over budget on capital expenditures. CUB filed testimony arguing that tucked away in ComEd\u2019s reconciliation rate-hike plan is an attempt by the utility to improperly win millions of dollars a year in higher rates in connection to problems\u2013billing delays, overcharges and other errors\u2013ComEd customers have experienced since the utility launched its new system in February of 2024. According to the testimony, the improper charges include: $9.3 million a year in higher rates to recover $49 million in spending to fix the billing system, about which CUB is still hearing consumer complaints. \u201cIt\u2019s ridiculous for ComEd to try to raise our rates in connection with billing problems the utility giant created itself,\u201d CUB Executive Director Sarah Moskowitz said. \u201dCustomers shouldn\u2019t pay higher rates for ComEd\u2019s incompetence.\u201d CUB argued the billing problems also came into play in two instances where ComEd is seeking performance bonus payment, under the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), that the utility has not earned, including: A $5.8 million incentive payment for reducing disconnections in certain lower-income ZIP codes. Under an order approving these performance incentive metrics, the ICC adopted a requirement proposed by CUB that the utility cannot collect this bonus for simply delaying disconnections. CUB argued the disconnection reductions were not due to improved affordability or customer assistance but to the fact that ComEd\u2019s error-prone billing system prevented it from disconnecting customers for nonpayment for most of 2024. A $3.5 million incentive payment ComEd argues it deserves for hitting a performance-metric target for customer service. CUB argued ComEd cannot claim this bonus because, amid the billing-system problems, the utility lost the data necessary to prove its claimed improvement. \u201cShame on ComEd,\u201d Moskowitz said. \u201cThe utility shouldn\u2019t benefit from its own failures.\u201d ComEd has had a number of run-ins with the ICC since its corruption scandal erupted in 2020. In 2022, state regulators ordered ComEd to pay a $38 million fine in connection with the scandal. (ComEd was fined $200 million by federal authorities in 2020, after admitting to a bribery scheme to pass legislation that implemented a \u201cformula rate\u201d system and hundreds of millions of dollars in rate hikes over a decade.) In December of 2023, under a new, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_wpscppro_dont_share_socialmedia":null,"_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"default","_twitter_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type":"default","_pinterest_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_instagram_share_type":"default","_medium_share_type":"default","_threads_share_type":"default","_google_business_share_type":"default","_selected_social_profile":[],"_wpsp_enable_custom_social_template":false,"_wpsp_social_scheduling":{"enabled":false,"datetime":null,"platforms":[],"status":"template_only","dateOption":"today","timeOption":"now","customDays":"","customHours":"","customDate":"","customTime":"","schedulingType":"absolute"},"_wpsp_active_default_template":true},"categories":[299],"tags":[65,389,139],"class_list":["post-44236","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-comed","tag-electric","tag-electric-bills-2","tag-rate-hike"],"cp_meta_data":{"_facebook_share_type":["default"],"_twitter_share_type":["default"],"_linkedin_share_type":["default"],"_pinterest_share_type":["default"],"_instagram_share_type":["default"],"_medium_share_type":["default"],"_threads_share_type":["default"],"_google_business_share_type":["default"],"_wpsp_custom_templates":["a:7:{s:8:\"facebook\";a:3:{s:8:\"template\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"profiles\";a:0:{}s:9:\"is_global\";b:0;}s:7:\"twitter\";a:3:{s:8:\"template\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"profiles\";a:0:{}s:9:\"is_global\";b:0;}s:8:\"linkedin\";a:3:{s:8:\"template\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"profiles\";a:0:{}s:9:\"is_global\";b:0;}s:9:\"pinterest\";a:3:{s:8:\"template\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"profiles\";a:0:{}s:9:\"is_global\";b:0;}s:9:\"instagram\";a:3:{s:8:\"template\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"profiles\";a:0:{}s:9:\"is_global\";b:0;}s:6:\"medium\";a:3:{s:8:\"template\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"profiles\";a:0:{}s:9:\"is_global\";b:0;}s:7:\"threads\";a:3:{s:8:\"template\";s:0:\"\";s:8:\"profiles\";a:0:{}s:9:\"is_global\";b:0;}}"],"classic-editor-remember":["classic-editor"],"_edit_lock":["1765468154:5"],"_edit_last":["5"],"_wp_page_template":["default"],"borntogive_page_header_show_hide":["2"],"borntogive_pages_title_show":["1"],"borntogive_pages_Choose_slider_display":["2"],"borntogive_pages_select_revolution_from_list":["3"],"borntogive_pages_slider_pagination":["yes"],"borntogive_pages_slider_auto_slide":["yes"],"borntogive_pages_slider_direction_arrows":["yes"],"borntogive_pages_slider_effects":["fade"],"borntogive_pages_body_bg_wide":["0"],"borntogive_pages_body_bg_repeat":["repeat"],"borntogive_pages_content_bg_wide":["0"],"borntogive_pages_content_bg_repeat":["repeat"],"borntogive_pages_social_show":["1"],"borntogive_strict_no_sidebar":["0"],"borntogive_sidebar_columns_layout":["3"],"borntogive_gallery_slider_pagination":["yes"],"borntogive_gallery_slider_auto_slide":["yes"],"borntogive_gallery_slider_direction_arrows":["yes"],"borntogive_gallery_slider_effects":["fade"],"_wpb_vc_js_status":["false"],"_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":[""],"_wpscppro_dont_share_socialmedia":["off"],"_wpsp_is_facebook_share":["off"],"_wpsp_is_twitter_share":["off"],"_wpsp_is_linkedin_share":["off"],"_wpsp_is_pinterest_share":["off"],"_selected_social_profile":["a:0:{}"],"_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":["299"],"_yoast_wpseo_content_score":["60"],"_yoast_wpseo_estimated-reading-time-minutes":["4"]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44236","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44236"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44236\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44240,"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44236\/revisions\/44240"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44236"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44236"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44236"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}