SPRINGFIELD, Ill.,May 21/PRNewswire-USNewswire/

A summer with no air-conditioning is a harsh reality for consumers across the state finding themselves unable to keep up with soaring utility rates and facing the prospect of having their electricity disconnected. On Tuesday, the Illinois State Senate moved to prevent that, unanimously passing legislation to keep utility companies at bay during the height of summer heat. The bill is now set to be sent to the Governor.

The legislation, House Bill 5086, sponsored by State Representative Bob Flider (D-Decatur), and State Senator Mike Jacobs (D-Moline), passed the Senate 58-0, after passing the House of Representatives also unanimously earlier this month.

The bill protects consumers from having their electricity disconnected during extreme temperatures (days where the temperature is expected to reach 95 degrees or above). Older people, who tend to live on fixed incomes, are most affected by excessive heat. AARP is urging the Governor to sign the bill into law immediately.

AARP commends Senator Jacobs and Representative Flider for their dedication to protect Illinois consumers faced with hard times from having their electricity shut off during the height of summer heat, said Robert Gallo, AARP Illinois State Director. For older consumers, facing a summer without air conditioning can be fatal.

Excessive heat exposure caused 8,015 deaths in the United States from 1979-2003 -- more deaths than those caused by hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, floods and earthquakes in the nation combined, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

As the weather begins to heat up, it is important that we make sure consumers utility services arent shut off when they need them the most, Representative Flider said. This bill will protect our most vulnerable citizens, especially senior citizens, from having their air conditioning and electricity shut off at the worst possible time.

Keeping residents' energy on during heat emergencies in order to keep their homes cool is both a safety and a health issue. We have all heard horror stories of people falling victim to the overpowering heat and humidity in the summer. This bill will help low-income residents and seniors make it through what is predicted to be another scorching summer, Senator Jacobs said.

Current state law provides protections for customers from having their electric or natural gas service disconnected for non-payment during the winter months. However, there were no similar utility termination protections for customers cooling their homes during the summer months.

AARP is also urging the Illinois Commerce Commission to deny proposals from ComEd and Ameren for nearly $600 million in rate hikes and much more in new surcharges. If approved, the increases could wipe out the billion dollar rate relief law won by Illinois consumers last year.

SOURCE AARP Illinois

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