"You've Caught the NET!"

Everything goes up, right?  Gasoline?  Heating Oil?  Groceries?  Home Prices (well . . . )?

Well, here in Chicago, the cost to turn on your computer, to run your shredder, to cut your plywood, and to flip on that reading light, is going up, once again!

Commonwealth Edison, or, as we call them here in Chicago, Com Ed, is raising rates once again, to relect the higher cost for energy to be purchased at auction after June 1st.  The electrical utility, which serves the Chicago Metro area, will boost rates by an average of $2 a bill effective this Summer.

I know - it doesn't sound like much - but the company increased rates over 22% on in January, 2007, after a ten-year rate freeze on electrical service here expired.  This coming September, the utility plans to ask for another average $8 per bill increase, to pay for aging infrastructure replacement, mostly.

In total, they say the average electric bill here in Chicago will increase from the average $60 per month in December, 2006, to $77 after the proposed September increase.  In reality, many bills for residential customers and some small businesses, rose quite a bit more.

During the hot summer here, my classic, poorly-insulated Chicago-style Brick Bungalow - with only old lathe board, plaster, newspaper, then two courses of brick separating our family from the elements - our electric bill can approach $300, with moderate use of air conditioning.

In 2009, the State of Illinois will launch the Illinois Power Authority.  The independent state agency will be charged with procuring, most economically, electrical power throughout the state.  Until they are working, Commonwealth Edison will be responsible for procuring power for Chicago area residents.

See our blog post today at our Team Blog Center - BlogChicagoHomes.com - with links to Robert Manor's article in today's Chicago Tribune.

DEAN & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO