Even for a state noted for its political dysfunction, what happened in the Illinois Legislature last week was breathtakingly twisted.

But that's the risk of the competitive market Exelon championed for the past 25 years. When prices were high, shareholders won. As recently as 2014, Exelon CEO Chris Crane said, “We're saying we don't want to be subsidized and no one should be subsidized in the competitive markets, so there are a few that may not make it.” 

...what of the economic impact of jacking up businesses' power rates? Where are the bailouts for other communities laid low by plant closures? Where's the bailout for human services providers getting stiffed by Springfield?

A massive energy policy overhaul that affects every resident and business should not be rushed through the handful of days dedicated to the fall Veto Session. 

Our view is that repeatedly putting the thumb of government on the scale to determine which energy industries win and lose is no way to run an economy. 

...one troubling fact remains: Exelon is getting a bailout. Through that bailout, the company would keep open two nuclear plants that Exelon itself has declared are not economically viable. In any other business, owners themselves would have to deal with a money-losing operation.

Exelon is back at the Capitol trying to win financial help for two struggling nuclear power plants, pushing what opponents have called a "Christmas tree" of giveaways that they estimate could cost consumers as much as $24 billion over 23 years.

...With the added provisions in the new bill, including the subsidies for Dynegy’s coal plants, that cost is expected to increase, Nelson said.

The Illinois legislature has a week to decide on a far-reaching energy reform bill that includes something for everyone to hate.

Critics put the bill’s cost at $24 billion and describe it as the largest rate increase in U.S. history. 

The Chicago area's biggest electric utility wants another rate increase. Critics complain it's big enough to shock some people and to force some businesses to lay off workers.

This is no way to encourage manufacturers and residents to choose Illinois.

Exelon's energy bill has landed at last, containing ratepayer-financed benefits for virtually every energy interest in Illinois, including now Dynegy's large but financially ailing coal-fired fleet of plants downstate.

The state's large industrial and manufacturing companies would see significant increases in their electric bills to help bankroll a dramatic expansion of energy-efficiency programs run by Commonwealth Edison and downstate utility Ameren Illinois as part of a wide-ranging draft energy bill circulating in Springfield.

If certain energy industry interests get their way in Springfield, you'll soon see your power bill rise—not because you're using more, and not because power has gotten more expensive to produce.

Sources differed on how much ratepayers would actually need to shell out... with some saying to expect $265 million annually for the foreseeable future and others saying the total might average $200 million a year. Exelon wouldn't comment on its expectations.

“We don't need a pilot to analyze the impact on customers,” Vogt says, pointing to ComEd's determination that current usage patterns support a conclusion that two-thirds of customers would save with demand pricing.

Take our word for it, in other words. 

An unlikely but powerful force is coming to the aid of the beleaguered owner of Illinois' largest fleet of coal-fired power plants.

The sponsor of a bill aimed at remaking Illinois' electric utility landscape and saving the Clinton nuclear power plant said Monday the legislation won't be passed before today's deadline set by Exelon Corp.

Exelon is trying to orchestrate an unlikely end-of-session deal to pass far-reaching legislation to prop up what it says are financially struggling nuclear power plants, threatening to close them and eliminate hundreds of jobs if lawmakers don't act.