Welch, House Democrats Deliver Major Home Energy Relief Package
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch is delivering relief from rising energy costs, passing comprehensive legislation that seeks to bring down home energy bills both immediately and in the long term.
“Opening a utility bill shouldn’t feel so scary, and every day shouldn’t feel like such a struggle. But heating and powering a home has never felt more daunting,” Welch said. “That’s why in Illinois our conversations around energy have been focused directly on affordability. This package delivers real relief for working people and seniors on fixed incomes, while also building on our commitment to clean energy and generating the power we need to fuel a growing economy.”
Across the country, home energy costs are skyrocketing. In Illinois in particular, power demands from new high-tech businesses and cuts to clean energy production hidden in Washington’s massive tax bill threaten to raise costs even further—resulting in $9.5 billion in increased state energy costs. The Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act (Senate Bill 25) puts Illinois on better footing to counteract rising energy prices.
Beginning in 2026, utility customers in Northern Illinois will receive a monthly Carbon Mitigation Credit, reducing home energy bills by up to $11 every month. Building on these savings, the bill advanced by Welch and House Democrats includes major innovations to generate and store energy, and bring down costs even further, including:
Ensuring all homeowners benefit from the savings produced by new green energy. A new network of “virtual power plants” will ensure that surplus power generated by home solar panels and other green energy sources is redistributed across the system to help bring down costs for all customers.
Increasing battery storage by deploying cutting-edge methods to capture and store energy. The sun doesn’t always shine and wind doesn’t always blow, but battery storage can capture and preserve that energy—acting like insurance for our power system.
Investing in energy efficiency programs. Senate Bill 25 directly expands energy efficiency programs for residents, lowering electricity prices by reducing overall demand. The measure also improves equity in energy efficiency programs by allocating a minimum amount of funds to support low-income customers.