As Exelon seeks state help in propping up the Clinton Nuclear Plants and several Illinois reactors, the company's subsidiary, Com-Ed, has pushed for changes to electricity rates.
The idea is to charge customers based not on how much overall electricity they use, but on how much energy a household uses when demand is high.
A group of Chicago politicians have signed on to a letter with organizations including the Illinois Public Interest Research Group, opposing the plan.
PIRG's Abe Scarr says it would be confusing for consumers who couldn’t know when doing a load of laundry, blending a smoothie, or watching T-V would cause their electric bill to go up.
"We'd be sending a price signal to consumers that wouldn't actually improve our overall system. It wouldn't reduce costs for the consumers, it wouldn't reduce the negative impacts on our environment that our current electricity system imposes. So it's a little bit of a bait and switch here," said Scarr.
The letter from Chicago alderman and mayoral-runner up Jesús “Chuy” Garcia ... could influence state legislators whose support is needed to approve the change. Negotiations are ongoing.
Com-Ed did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
The company has previously called it a modern update, which will result in cheaper electricity for a majority of customers.
