Dive Brief:

• A bill to extend the time utilities can take to recover costs associated with smart grid upgrades in Illinois has been sent to Gov. Bruce Rauner's desk, though the measure was passed by lawmakers in December.
• If approved, the law would allow Ameren and Commonwealth Edison two additional years to recover costs before having to show the upgrades have been cost effective.
• The measure was held up through procedural moves, but was sent to Rauner for consideration in February, the Peoria Journal Star reported.

Dive Insight:

Illinois lawmakers passed the measure back in December, but the Peoria Journal Star explains why it was only sent to the Governor in February. Senate President John Cullerton held the bill using a parlimentary procedure to keep it off the desk of then-Gov. Pat Quinn, who had vetoed an earlier version.

The hold was lifted after Rauner took office, but then lawmakers on the House side held the bill also. He has 60 days to act.

Rate increases to pay for smart grid technology had been scheduled to continue through 2017, but the bill would extend those through 2019. Customer advocates say the measure gives the utilities too much leeway without oversight. 

The Citizens Utility Board wants the governor to veto the bill and, arguing that it is too soon to extent the law before judging its benefits. “We thought this bill sent the wrong message, so we were opposed to the bill,” CUB executive director Dave Kolata told the newspaper. “We think the utilities need to be held accountable.”