Marc from Oak Park

Posted: Wednesday, November 9th, 2011 10:04 AM

@ENUF - thanks for the REC info. But it supports my point. Integrys is using the credits (tax funded) to undercut competitive rates. So there is nothing left to invest. 98% of what they buy is coal/oil. If I want to reduce carbon emissions, I should use ComEd which is 47.8% nuclear and 2.6% renewable and actually directly invests in generation.

j.oak park

Posted: Wednesday, November 9th, 2011 7:31 AM

@enuf. Thanks for the tip, i googled and found CTJ, Citizens for Tax Justice. they have a white paper on tax dodgers, http://www.ctj.org/search_results.php?cx=005687152319302669205:7bxw5yzvdpo&cof=FORID:10&ie=UTF-8&q=integrys#409 and as you stated integrys is tenth on the list of tax dodgers. It seems only appropriate that this slippery deal be done with a slippery firm. Way to go OP, and something Silly can be proud of ... right Silly?

Enuf is Enuf from Oak Park

Posted: Tuesday, November 8th, 2011 9:01 PM

Possible reasons for opting-out? 1) Found a better rate at Illinois Commerce Commission's 'Plug In Illinois' (pluginillinois.org), which provides 40 rate plans from 15 Retail Electric Suppliers other than ComEd. 2) If rates are trending down, may opt for a variable rate or a 1-year contract. 3) May want to start now, instead of waiting for village. 4) May take exception to Integrys being listed as the 10th largest federal tax dodger relative to Fortune 500 corporations.

Edison Pennyfeathers from oak park

Posted: Tuesday, November 8th, 2011 7:37 PM

What's the catch? Why would anyone opt-out if they are giving you electricity at a 25% discount with a 2 year locked in rate?

Enuf is Enuf from Oakm Park

Posted: Tuesday, November 8th, 2011 2:01 PM

@Marc ... I agree the opt-out method, in which a resident that does not choose to participate in the Community Aggregate Plan must express in writing an intent not to participate, is designed to capture the market of unknowing electricity consumers. I believe the IL stature had to be re-written so as not to conflict with the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practice Act.

Enuf is Enuf from Oak Park

Posted: Tuesday, November 8th, 2011 1:48 PM

@Marcc: It is important to understand that the electricity associated with Integrys Renewable Energy Credits (REC) is sold separately and is used by other consumers. RECs allow OP to claim the associated attributes of renewable-based generation, while the associated physical electricity takes a separate pathway to the point of end use, primarily in Montana, the Dakotas and Manitoba. Integrys customers in OP will continue to consume coal and nuclear generated electricity.

Marc from Oak Park

Posted: Tuesday, November 8th, 2011 1:18 PM

I am also very annoyed by the 'opt-out' approach to this enrollment. They sent out a notice on the 7th that requires a response by the 17th?! And if I don't respond I am automatically switched. This shows very little confidence in their offer and shows an apparent need to 'trick' people onto the plan. The referendum did not say the village would choose for me unless I opted out. The 'green'claim is completely unsupported and the 'opt-out' instruction is on the back page. Very Weasely.

Marc from Oak Park

Posted: Tuesday, November 8th, 2011 1:10 PM

The 'green' story is complete balony. Integrys Energy purchases power in auctions from companies that generate the power. The only power available at 5 cents/KWH is generated by old coal plants. These guys set a price of 5.79 which includes the interchange price. There is no way this is paying for green anything. Their 'green' projects are all very small solar or gas. Their website shows the dozen or so rooftop solar sites they own and these only provide power to the site they sit on.

Enuf is Enuf from Oak Park

Posted: Monday, November 7th, 2011 11:26 PM

@Paul: Integrys Energy operates Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas, and does not buy electricity from ComEd. Of concern, though, is that while businesses are required to pay a 35% corporate income tax rate, Integrys' tax rate was -11.3% for 2008-10, ranking 10th in lowest tax rate for Fortune 500 companies. A "negative tax rate" means Integrys made more after taxes than before taxes. (source: Citizens for Tax Justice & the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, 2011)

paul from oak park

Posted: Monday, November 7th, 2011 8:10 PM

Integrys Energy is a division of Peoples Gas Company and North Shore Gas. I am not an expert by any means but I do not see how buying our electricity from the gas company is going to save the world. Let's see, Integrys buys the electricity from Com Ed at a discount, sells it to us, which forces Com Ed to go in for a big rate hike. Meanwhile there are few Com Ed repair crews and power outages are very frequent. I am sure all this can be solved by giving Com Ed less money and the Gas Co more.