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Evanston Residents Could See 22-Percent Increase in Electric Bills

Attorney General Lisa Madigan and the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) filed a lawsuit protesting the electricity auction held last month, and yesterday House Speaker Michael Madigan called upon Governor Rod Blagojevich to call a special session of the legislature to extend the rate freeze.

The rate hike will affect residential users of electricity in ComEd territory; in other parts of the State, where the Ameren companies hold sway, rate hikes between 40 and 55 percent are projected.

The rate freeze and the rate hike are bookends of the Illinois Electric Service Customer Choice and Rate Relief Law, enacted in 1997, which, according to the website of the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC), "restructures the state's electric service industry to offer customers choice and create a competitive marketplace" for electricity.

Consumer groups oppose auction
The "customer choice" aspect in the law allowed customers to choose their own provider of electricity beginning in 2002. However, in practical terms the bill contemplates few alternate suppliers of retail electricity (ARES).

ComEd sold its coal and nuclear power-generating plants in Illinois, but it still owns the lines through which electricity is distributed. It thus acts as a middleman in selling electricity to consumers, and it charges other companies to use its lines.

As part of the "competitive marketplace" aspect, the ICC held a reverse auction of electricity last month. At the auction, companies ("middlemen" such as ComEd as well as generators of power) bid to provide electricity to Illinois customers, for the most part over ComEd's lines.

ComEd essentially "won" the bid for the northeastern Illinois territory, and the Ameren companies - Central Illinois Light Company, Central Illinois Public Service Company and Illinois Power - essentially won the bid for providing service downstate, said Brad Sterling of the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC).

And while the 22-percent rate hike for northern Illinois seems large, "downstate areas will probably be hit with a 40-percent hike," said Mr. Sterling.

CUB opposes the auction and the price increase. Even before the auction took place, CUB and the Attorney General filed a lawsuit challenging the authority of the Illinois Commerce Commission to regulate the auction - and the auction itself - because they did not feel there was a competitive marketplace for electricity in Illinois. They also did not feel that Excelon, the parent company of ComEd, needed a rate increase.

Jim Chilsen, spokesperson for CUB, said, "There is no competition for the Illinois residential consumer [of electricity]. … Excelon, the parent company of ComEd, is increasingly wealthy and would be so, even if their rates were reduced or re-frozen. Excelon had record profits in 2004 and 2005 - $2.1 billion in profit - all of this during a rate freeze. … We think [the auction] does not pass the smell test."

Mr. Chilsen said CUB is "not against a company making profits, but we're not talking about healthy profits. The auction sacrifices the health of Illinois' economy for Excelon's windfall profits."

In addition, CUB and other organizations are lobbying legislators to pass House Bill 5766, which would extend the rate freeze for another three years.

"We're very optimistic about that," said Mr. Chilsen. "We've seen a groundswell of support." Asked whether he thought the legislature would enact HB5766, he said, "Utilities have the lobbyists; consumers have the voters."

Commonwealth Edison believes the auction was a fair way to give consumers the best price for electricity in what they say is a competitive market. "There is a strong and robust competitive market for electricity. The auction resulted in the lowest available market rates [for consumers]," said Judy Rader of the public relations department of ComEd.

She added, " There were 20 suppliers bidding in the auction, and 16 of them won the right to supply electricity to ComEd customers, and no single supplier can serve more than 35 percent of ComEd's customer base."

Ms. Rader said ComEd makes no money on the sale of electricity to consumers; the price is a pass-through to consumers. "The ICC allows us to pass the just and reasonable costs onto the consumer, and we think the cost of electricity is just and reasonable," she said.

But,ComEd does make money on the distribution of electricity. The delivery charge is a separate line item on the electric bill, and ComEd was granted a small rate increase on that over the summer. "We were essentially denied the increase," said Ms. Rader. "We asked for $317 million, and we got $8 million. Spread over our customer base, that's not a lot."

While most residential customers will still have ComEd as their supplier, Ms. Rader said, "About 50 percent of our large business customers have already chosen other suppliers."

Ms. Rader also said ComEd, though a unit of Excelon, "has to stand on its own." She added that ComEd has set up several programs to ease the effect of the rate increases. "We have the CARE program - Customers' Affordable Reliable Energy - under which customers can have the rate increase phased in. We also have an energy-efficiency campaign, where customers can learn how to save energy, which will also decrease their electric bills. And we've put about $1 million into programs to assist low-income persons and senior citizens with their electric bills."

The aftermath
Though somewhat controversial, the auction was successful, said the ICC's Mr. Sterling, "meaning there was no evidence of collusion or price-fixing."

Whether this is the best way to provide market-rate electricity is still open to debate. State representative Julie Hamos told the RoundTable she was asked to oppose the auction before it occurred but, "when I asked what the alternative was, no one had an answer."

She added, "Residential customers have had a pretty good deal for 10 years. The ‘problem' with price freezes is that there's always a bump up when they end."

Next time: ComEd and the City

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Some Would Like Books to Be Banned; Others Would Like Them to Be Read

"Concert readings of excerpts from challenged books actively celebrate the books most at risk and call attention to the would-be censor's threat to an educated democracy," said Terry McCabe, City Lit artistic director.

The books at risk this time around included "The Awakening" by Kate Chopin, "Beloved" by Toni Morrison, "The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye View of the World" by Michael Pollen, "Fallen Angels" by Walter Dean Myers, "Freakonomics," by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, "How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez, "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky and "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien.

The books at risk this time around were saved by a 6-1 vote of the school board. Since 1982, Banned Books Week, held the last week of September, has celebrated the freedom to read.

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Aldermen Discuss Inclusionary Housing Ordinance

The aldermen voted to limit the scope of the ordinance to new owner-occupied multi-family housing developments of 25 units or more.

They voted to eliminate condo conversions and new rental developments from the ordinance, after the City's legal staff revised its recommendation and said the narrower ordinance would not be defective on Constitutional equal-protection grounds.

The current draft of the ordinance would require developers to set aside 10 percent of the units in planned developments with 25 or more units for people earning less than the median income in the Chicago metro area.

Half of the 10 percent requirement could be met by payment into an affordable-housing fund, but the other half would have to be met on-site.

The aldermen briefly discussed, but took no action on, a proposal from City Manager Julia Carroll. Ms. Carroll suggested that, instead of requiring affordable units on site, the City increase the level of payments that it has already been seeking from developers as contributions to the City's affordable-housing program.

Ms. Carroll said developers have agreed to pay $874,000 under that program, but she admitted that the City has only collected $25,000 of that amount so far, because most of the affected projects have not yet been completed.

Aldermanic views

The inclusionary-housing proposal has been under discussion for over a year at the Council and at least two years before that by the Housing Commission.

Alderman Edmund Moran, 6th Ward, said the City under its current program gets only 10 percent of what it could capture for affordable housing if the ordinance were in place. He urged immediate adoption of the ordinance.

He also argued that at least some of the affordable units need to be built on the site of the new developments, which would not be required under the manager's plan.

Alderman Cheryl Wollin, 1st Ward, urged adoption of the ordinance "so that we have a community that mixes income levels in the same building." She cited efforts in other communities to achieve the same goals.

But Alderman Ann Rainey, 8th Ward, responded, "A lot of communities that talk about all that stuff don't actually produce any of it."

She argued that adopting the inclusionary-housing plan now would discourage people from voting for the November referendum that would increase the real estate transfer tax by 20 percent to fund affordable housing programs.

She also said the ordinance does not provide sufficient support for the people it proposes to help. "You can't take a family earning $30,000 and put them in a building where everybody else is making $200,000 and expect them to keep up without making other arrangements," Ald. Rainey said.

She argued that condo maintenance fees and higher real estate taxes would break the budget of anyone the City tried to help under the ordinance as proposed.

Alderman Lionel Jean-Baptiste, 2nd Ward, suggested amending the ordinance to meet Ald. Rainey's objections. "Let's fix it and advance it," he said.

Alderman Melissa Wynne, 3rd Ward, said, "I don't think this is finished enough so I can support it."

She said that she is no fan of developers but is concerned that many people from the development community have said the ordinance would bring new construction to a halt.

"The places where this has worked [are places where] the toolbox [of incentives for developers] has been open," she said. "But I'm going to keep it shut, at least on Chicago Avenue in my ward. We don't have the density to give away."

She also noted that development is already slowing down. "Look at the Plan Commission agenda for the next six months," she said. "It's blank."

Ald. Wynne added that just in her ward two or three developments are on hold because of rising construction costs. "I'm not necessarily unhappy about that," she said, "but we're hitching ourselves to an economic engine that is really slowing down.

"I think we have to have inclusionary housing, but I don't necessarily think that this ordinance will actually produce any of it, given the economic market," Ald. Wynne said.

Alderman Elizabeth Tisdahl, 7th Ward, said the City is dependent on building-permit fees for revenue, and the slowing housing market means decreased revenue on that front that will increase pressure to raise other taxes to fund existing programs.

"I don't want to drive more people out of town than we manage to get in by passing this policy," she said.

She urged waiting until after the referendum vote to act on the inclusionary-housing ordinance.

Alderman Steve Bernstein, 4th Ward, urged passage of the ordinance. "If we're not happy with it, then let's tweak it, but it's important that we pass it."

He said the City already has a "toolbox" for developers: "We call it a planned development ordinance.

"I don't want to stop growing," Ald. Bernstein said, "but I sense we're still vibrant; we've still got people who want to come in and develop here."

Alderman Delores Holmes, 5th Ward, said, "I can't see why we can't do both [the referendum and the inclusionary housing ordinance]. In Evanston we have to not just talk the talk but walk the walk in terms of the diversity of the community," she said.

Alderman Anjana Hansen, 9th Ward, said that ever since the Council rejected the Darrow Corners development earlier this year, "the Council as a whole has been criticized as not committed to affordable housing. We need to not just give lip service to it. I think we need to move on the ordinance. Just pass it. It's been sitting around for too long."

Referendum on Increasing the Real Estate Transfer Tax

Below is the wording for the referendum to increase the real estate transfer tax and use the increment for affordable housing that will appear on the ballot in the Nov. 7 election:

"To the voters of the City of Evanston:

"Shall the City of Evanston impose a real estate transfer tax increase of twenty percent (20%) to establish a new transfer tax rate of six dollars ($6.00) for every one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) of value, or fraction thereof, to be paid by the seller of real estate transferred? The current rate of the real estate transfer tax is five dollars ($5.00) for every one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) of value, or fraction thereof, and the revenue is used for the City's general fund. The revenue from the increase is to be deposited in the Affordable Housing Tax fund in order to provide a source of funding for the creation, maintenance and improvement of safe and decent affordable housing in the City of Evanston in order to enhance the preservation and maintenance of the City's cultural and economic diversity."

Canine Crimefighter Receives Protective Vest

Jack, Evanston's new police dog, received a bullet-resistant vest last week, an even tougher garment than the one worn by police officer Ted Schienbein, his handler.

The Kevlar vest, which is also knife-resistant, was placed on Jack by Illinois Vest-a-Dog, whose goal is to give a vest to every police dog in the State whose handler wants one.

"A police dog is more than just an investigative tool, it's an officer's partner," said Lee Harrison, the non-profit group's director. "It makes sense to protect them."

Officer Schienbein will also be available for duty on campus in cooperation with Northwestern University's police department.

Evanston dentist Julia Weertman undertook fundraising to add Jack and his handler to the Evanston police department. In addition, NU made a one-time contribution of $25,000 toward start-up costs.

The vesting ceremony was held in the lobby of the Ford Engineering Design Center. In its three years of existence, Illinois Vest-a-Dog has equipped 180 "K9" units across the state. Photo by Laura Rust

Correction

The Duck Pluck and Race, which took place last weekend at Dawes Park lagoon, is a fund-raiser for the Evanston Environmental Association (EEA), not for Keep Evanston Beautiful, as was stated in the Sept. 20 edition. The RoundTable regrets the error.

City to OK Kyoto Protocols

By Bill Smith

Evanston appears to be on track to join the list of over 250 cities that have signed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement.

The agreement is an effort at the municipal level to adopt provisions of the Kyoto Protocol, a decade-old United Nations agreement on reducing greenhouse gas emissions that has not been ratified by the U.S. Senate.

After a presentation by the Environmental Board at last week's City Council meeting, aldermen asked the City staff to draft a resolution adopting the agreement.

Stephen Lupton, co-chair of the Environment Board, told the aldermen Evanston should adopt the agreement "to prevent a growing environmental disaster which has direct effects on us all."

He said that as a result of increased burning of fossil fuels that release heat-trapping carbon gases into the atmosphere, the earth's temperature has warmed 1.4 degrees in the past century, and last year was the hottest on record.

The Mayors Agreement calls for a variety of steps to address the problem, including:
• Developing plans to reduce carbon emissions from city operations;
• Enforcing land-use policies that create compact, walkable urban communities;
• Promoting bicycle trails and mass-transit use;
• Encouraging use of energy-efficient lighting through building code improvements;
• Reducing the number of municipal vehicles and increase their average fuel efficiency;
• Promoting tree planting to increase shade and absorb carbon dioxide;
• Adopting public education programs on global warming;

The program has a goal of reducing carbon emissions by 25 percent by 2012. Chicago and several Chicago-area communities have already signed onto the climate protection program.

Mr. Lupton said several provisions of the climate protection program are similar to provisions already adopted.

TRANSFORMING STRESS

FOCUS OF OCT. 11 PUBLIC TALK IN EVANSTON

"Transforming Stress and Touching the Spiritual Dimension" will be discussed by Sister Annabel Laity, Buddhist nun and teacher ordained by Vietnamese peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh, on Wednesday, October 11 at 7:30 p.m. The public talk will be given at Alice Millar Chapel, 1870 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL.

Sister Annabel Laity, Abbess of Green Mountain Dharma Center in Vermont, has collaborated with Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh in translating the Buddha's sutras on meditation from Pali into English and in preparing modern commentaries on the texts. The Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh, a Buddhist monk who currently resides in France, was nominated by Martin Luther King, Jr. for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1967.

Sister Annabel's public talk is a free-will offering event sponsored by Lakeside Buddha Sangha, a local meditation group, and the Northwestern University Department of Religion. Call 847-475-0080 or visit www.lakesidebuddha.org.

Ecosystem Conference to Draw Diverse Lake Michigan Partners

Persons interested in advancing the health of Lake Michigan are invited to the first annual conference of the Lake Michigan Watershed Ecosystem Partnership, scheduled from noon to 3 p.m. on Oct. 5 at the Ecology Center, 2024 McCormick Blvd.

The Alliance for the Great Lakes will join with more than 30 other members of a newly formed partnership at the conference. Elected officials, agency staff, businesses, non-profit organizations and individuals are encouraged to attend the conference, as broad participation will help bring about more comprehensive solutions.

To R.S.V.P. and for more information about the conference, contact Gina Lettiere at glettiere@greatlakes.org or 312-939-0838, ext. 228.

Electronics Recycling Event Oct. 14

On Saturday, Oct. 14, Illinois residents can recycle out-of-date computers and electronics from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Motorola's facility, 1301 E. Algonquin, Shaumberg at no cost.

Only residential equipment will be accepted. This collection is for residents only; if businesses, schools, government agencies or institutions need to recycle their old equipment, information can be found on SWANCC's web site at www.swancc.org for area recycling contractor references.

Items accepted include personal computers, hard drives, modems, printers, mice, keyboards, scanners, telephones, answering machines, typewriters, calculators, fax machines, copy machines, shredders, postage machines, televisions (no consoles), VCRs, DVD players, stereo equipment, cameras, camcorders, video game players and joysticks.

Items that will not be accepted include air conditioners, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, microwaves, large appliances, toasters, blenders, software, disks, CDs or DVDs.

Cell phones will be collected for Motorola's Race to Recycle program. Please keep cell phones separate. For more information, contact SWANCC, info@swancc.org or 847- 724-9205.

Homegrown Artists at the Farmers Market

Joan Slavin with her brightly colored gourd birdhouses.

The newest feature of teh Farmer's Mrekt is home-grown but generally not edible - a chance for local artists to display and sell their works. Jewelry, tile art, handbags, books and birdhouses were among the creations of Evanston artists last weekend. The booths and tents are located at the south end of the market, near the Maple Avenue parking garage. The program continues through Saturday.

Pictured left to right, Laura Montenegro, author and illustrator of children's books, with Emily Guthrie, one of the coordinators of the program.

 

 

 

Chute Recycling Club Gets Tools to Build Cafeteria Recycling Center.

Members of the Chute Middle School Recycling Club at the Lowe's Home Center on Touhy Avenue in Skokie, hold "thank-you" posters. The club received a Lowe's Toolbox for Education Grant, which allowed them to choose materials to construct a recycling center in the school's lunchroom. The new center will enable students to recycle cans, bottles and organic waste during lunchtime. Photo courtesy of Chute Middle School

Some Bees Gone; Some Hives Thrive

By Bill Smith

Aldermen voted 7-2 last week to introduce an ordinance that would effectively ban beekeeping on all but the largest lots in Evanston.

A memo from Jay Terry, director of Health and Human Services, indicated that the ordinance would make illegal all existing beehives in the City now registered with the state. About 20 people spoke out on the bee issue, splitting roughly three-to-one against the ordinance.

David Ucker, 2720 Park Place said, "We've always had bees and we always will. They live here."

He also said the Council should celebrate and support the initiative shown by Gabrial Jacobs, the young beekeeper whose hive sparked the controversy.

Jim Graham,742 Wesley Ave., said the ordinance is designed to appease a small vocal minority objecting to the bees.

"There's no problem with bees in Chicago, where beekeeping is actively encouraged," Mr. Graham said, and there should be no problem with beekeeping in Evanston either.

Heather Eloff, 1523 Madison St., said she lives a few doors west of the new beehive and has not had any problems with bees. "A lot of people on Madison want to keep bees there," she said. "It's a part of nature that we enjoy."

Even Dolan McMillan of 1519 Madison St., who initially raised the alarm about the bees last spring, sounded a somewhat more conciliatory note. Having the bees next door "has not posed a problem to me this summer," he said. "I'm not under a constant state of fear. But logically, City-wide, it makes sense to set some kind of guidance, if not restrictions, on what the City thinks is safe for the practice of beekeeping."

But Douglas Cannon, a Skokie attorney who said he represents neighborhood residents opposed to beekeeping, urged the aldermen to adopt the ordinance. He said the restrictions would not "step on" the young beekeeper. "He can just move the hive to a place where it does conform to the ordinance," Mr. Cannon said.

The aldermen are scheduled to take final action on the ordinance on Oct. 9.