Utilities in Illinois are pressing state lawmakers for an immediate two-year extension of the smart grid law that permits them to hike electricity delivery rates annually via a formula.

Illinois Rep. Brandon Phelps,  D-Harrisburg, who chairs the House Public Utilities Committee, introduced legislation yesterday that would extend the date by which formula rates are to expire to 2019 from 2017. The bill is a major priority of Ameren Illinois, the electric utility for most of downstate Illinois. Read the full article here