Illinois Combats Rising Energy Costs as Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act Takes Effect Today

The measure will bolster in-state energy generation to address rising utility costs and soaring demand 

SPRINGFIELD, IL — The Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act (CRGA) takes effect today, ensuring Illinois can produce more energy to keep up with rising demand. CRGA ensures substantially more battery storage will be built in Illinois, facilitates more investment in renewable energy resources, creates an innovative virtual power plant (VPP) program, and strengthens energy efficiency programs. 

Throughout the state, customers are seeing their utility bills rise because of rising energy demand. From March 2021 to March 2026, the average bill increased by 53%. Furthermore, the average household can expect to see an additional $10 to $15 added to their monthly bill during the peak summer months due to rising energy capacity and infrastructure costs. CRGA cannot prevent these already built-in increases, but it will advance solutions within the state’s control to help with affordability moving forward. 

Wind and solar projects comprise the majority of new energy generation added to the grid because they are the quickest and most affordable to build. Delays in getting more projects connected to the grid and federal roadblocks have prevented more of this low-cost generation from coming online sooner. Meanwhile, natural gas turbines are experiencing a supply chain shortage. These dynamics have led to an energy supply crunch that is driving up utility bills. CRGA will help facilitate part of the solution to this affordability crisis.  

CRGA will:  

• Pave the way for substantially more battery storage, with a target for 3 GW of storage capacity by 2030. 

• Create a VPP program that delivers immediate supply by paying customers to let their home batteries, smart thermostats, and other devices help power the grid during high demand, reducing costs for everyone.   

• Expand energy efficiency to help utility customers reduce energy waste, improve comfort, and save money. 

“Illinois residents are facing rising energy costs because demand is soaring. There is one viable solution to address affordability and meet demand: build new energy supply while managing demand. Illinois is showing all states how to address the supply crunch and affordability challenge,” said Samarth Medakkar, Illinois Policy Lead for Advanced Energy United.  

CRGA’s battery storage provisions alone will save utility consumers $13 billion over 20 years, according to the Illinois Power Agency. As large-scale batteries are deployed later this decade, CRGA’s VPP program and energy efficiency programs will deliver additional relief.  

“CRGA focuses on the only affordability solutions that can be deployed in the next few years: wind, solar, storage, virtual power plants, and demand-side management. They also happen to be the lowest-cost tools we have. Illinois chose decisive action that will help residents lower costs, while creating jobs and attracting new business,” Medakkar said. 

Advanced Energy United applauds the Pritzker Administration and the many legislators who convened hundreds of stakeholders to craft comprehensive legislation to move the state forward.