Bellwood lights up Washington Boulevard Page 4
State regulators flex muscle, lower utility rate hikes
Vol. VIII No. 51
DECEMBER 20, 2023
Meet Wyatt Widmer
vfpress.news
Page 3
Decisions continue shift at Illinois Commerce Commission toward tighter regulation of utilities By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois
CHICAGO – The Illinois Commerce Commission on Dec. 14 curtailed proposed rate hikes and rejected grid plans from two major electric utilities, mirroring a series of bombshell decisions rendered last month that cut increases for Illinois’ four largest gas utilities. The ICC rejected the pair of plans from Commonwealth Edison and Ameren Illinois that were meant to illustrate how the companies would comply with the state’s landmark climate legislation, the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act. Those plans would have laid out how the utilities plan to integrate with new renewable energy resources and meet decarbonization requirements while ensuring electric rates remain affordable for low-income communities. In rejecting the plans, regulators limited the companies’ proposed rate increases, meaning that next year’s impending increases will be significantly smaller than the utilities’ requests. ICC Chair Doug Scott said the plans had “significant shortcomings” and failed to meet the minimum standards set out by CEJA, includSee STATE REGULATORS on page 7
MICHAEL ROMAIN
Members of the Memorial Park District Spartans cheerleading program perform during a showcase on Nov. 29 at the Eisenhower Center in Hillside. The cheerleaders are ranked nationally, but the program still needs resources and funding to compete.
Bellwood Spartans cheerleaders top local competition as coaches push for equity in the sport young cheerleading coaches in Proviso By MICHAEL ROMAIN The Spartans took fourth Township are confronting the inequity head-on and winning on the mat despite place at the national Cheerleading isn’t just a sideline activity, the financial barriers. Earlier this year, two groups of local Pop now a sport recognized by the Internachampionship in Orlando as it’s Warner cheerleading teams beat out doztional Olympic Committee and is eligible ens of other teams in the Chicago area to inclusion in future Olympics. coaches seek more resources forUnfortunately, compete at the Pop Warner National Cheer the high costs of entry Dance Championships held Dec. 2 to and funding to meet the into the sport present imposing barriers of and Dec. 9 in Orlando, Fla. entry for young people in lower-income See CHEERLEADERS on page 5 sport’s high barriers to entry communities who want to compete. Four Editor