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* The beginning of Steve Daniels’ latest for Crain’s Chicago Business…
The roots of Commonwealth Edison’s entanglement in the current wide-ranging federal investigation of Illinois political corruption stretch back to 2003, when the company’s leaders discovered just how deeply they had fallen into disfavor with the powerful House speaker, Michael Madigan.
Madigan torpedoed a rate hike that John Rowe, then CEO of ComEd parent Exelon, said was needed to complete his plan to acquire troubled downstate utility Illinois Power. So ensued four years of cold and hot warfare between Madigan and Rowe, culminating in a fraught 2007 negotiation that led to a rate-hike compromise only because Emil Jones, the Senate president at the time, was a staunch ComEd backer and wouldn’t allow Madigan to call all the shots.
With Jones’ retirement looming, the company’s political playbook had to change fast. Rowe set in motion a sustained charm offensive to transform Madigan from an adversary into a solid supporter of a far more ambitious legislative agenda.
It would take years for the effort to bear fruit, but, starting in 2011, the campaign would help the Chicago-based power giant achieve two of its most remarkable Springfield victories. The first: elbowing aside state regulators and putting ComEd’s delivery rate hikes on something resembling autopilot. The second, a $2 billion ratepayer-financed bailout of two struggling nuclear plants.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Dec 20, 19 @ 12:38 pm
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“The speaker is immensely powerful,” Rowe says now in an email. “For the 22 years I have been in Chicago, the most powerful person in the state.
I guess Governors really aren’t in charge are they?
Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, Dec 20, 19 @ 12:52 pm
Interesting read but lots of Steve’s opinion being expressed in this article. Not saying he is wrong but there are still a lot of his thoughts coming through. And I thought this was interesting also.
===He was a foe. Our work made him more neutral. He is never an ally for a utility because he really does not like them. But when he makes a deal, he keeps it. The deals he asked of me were designed to yield public benefit, in his view at least.”===
The last time I looked doing things to yield public benefit was a good thing.
Comment by Been There Friday, Dec 20, 19 @ 1:09 pm
=== Governors really aren’t in charge===
Doesn’t excuse Rauner’s complete failure, but those who fail need excuses.
To the post,
The big question going forward could be motives in hiring practices, and since lobbying includes relationships and understanding personalities, will hiring practices, be they contract or in-house, now have a greater scrutiny by all involved?
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Dec 20, 19 @ 1:16 pm
It is clear that Madigan will in essence sell government to whomever will pay to keep his people flush with jobs and/or campaign cash. Were these rate hikes necessary? Did Exelon not make a profit and pay dividends to shareholders? Just sickened by what power the man has and how spineless most in Springfield are when it comes to standing up to “Himself.”
Comment by Flat Bed Ford Friday, Dec 20, 19 @ 1:36 pm
=== It is clear that Madigan will in essence sell government to whomever will pay to keep his people flush with jobs and/or campaign cash. Were these rate hikes necessary? ===
Bruce Rauner signed it. Ask him if they were necessary.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Dec 20, 19 @ 2:55 pm