Electric-rate relief bill is approved — sort of

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Senate approved legislation on Friday to roll back Ameren's recent electricity rate hikes and add an extra year to the rate freeze that expired on Jan. 1. While that may sound good to customers struggling to pay dramatically higher power bills, the measure has almost no chance of becoming law.

"We'll support this, but we know full well that this means absolutely nothing," said Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson, R-Greenville. "This is a sham."

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