This week the Illinois Senate will consider the nomination of Marty Cohen to be the Chairman of the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC).

The ICC needs the leadership of someone like Marty Cohen who has a deep understanding of the issues and a commitment to ensuring a safe, affordable and reliable energy market for all consumers.

Unfortunately, Mr. Cohen's nomination has come under attack by the regulated utilities, which are waging a lobbying campaign to defeat his nomination. Please send a message to your Senators immediately and urge them to support the nomination of Marty Cohen as Chairman of the Illinois Commerce Commission. Then, ask your friends and family to help by forwarding this email to them.


To take action, click on the following link or paste it into your web browser:
pirg.org/alerts/route.asp


Background:

The Illinois Commerce Commission regulates our electric, gas and other utilities. The ICC's job is to ensure that companies who provide essential services, companies like ComEd, People's Gas, SBC and others, are charging fair prices and are making basic services available to everyone.

In September, Governor Blagojevich appointed consumer advocate Marty Cohen to be the Chairman of the ICC. Mr. Cohen has spent his career as a watchdog of the commission, making sure the ICC is true to its purpose of providing reliable, affordable and efficient utility services. It would be hard to find anyone more qualified for the job.

Unfortunately, ComEd and other utilities oppose Mr. Cohen's appointment, claiming that his history as an advocate for consumers disqualifies him from making decisions about electricity rates. ComEd, which has donated more than half a million dollars to Illinois politicians over the last two years, is waging a massive lobbying effort to defeat Mr. Cohen's appointment.

The stakes are high for Illinois consumers. Our energy costs are skyrocketing, in part because our utilities have failed to invest in new technologies such as energy efficiency, wind power and other renewable energy sources. Moreover, ComEd has proposed a massive rate increase to take place in 2007. Now, more than ever, Illinois needs strong, independent leadership at the ICC.

Illinois PIRG strongly supports the appointment of Marty Cohen to chair the ICC.

Please send a message to your Senators immediately and urge them to support the nomination of Marty Cohen as Chairman of the Illinois Commerce Commission. Then, ask your friends and family to help by forwarding this email to them.


To take action, click on the following link or paste it into your web browser:
pirg.org/alerts/route.asp

Sincerely,

Rebecca D. Stanfield
Illinois PIRG Environmental Attorney
RebeccaS (at) illinoispirg.org
www.IllinoisPIRG.org

P.S. Thanks again for your support. Please feel free to share this e-mail with your family and friends.