Congressman Krishnamoorthi Presses Energy Department on Rising Electricity Costs in Wake of New Illinois Grid Report

WASHINGTON — Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) today sent a letter to Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright raising concerns about rising electricity costs and grid reliability risks facing Illinois families and businesses in the wake of a new Illinois Resource Adequacy Study warning of looming capacity shortfalls and higher power prices. In the letter, Congressman Krishnamoorthi noted that electricity costs in Illinois have increased more than 14 percent since January 2025, contributing to millions of Americans falling behind on their energy bills and facing the threat of disconnection. Congressman Krishnamoorthi pointed to the 2025 Resource Adequacy Study, which found that regional grids that serve Illinois are projected to face capacity limits and system-wide shortfalls beginning later this decade if the current trends continue. The study makes clear the core problem is not a lack of proposed clean energy projects, but the inability to bring new resources online on schedule. 

Congressman Krishnamoorthi highlighted that wind and solar accounted for 93 percent of new electricity added to the U.S. power grid in 2024, making them among the most cost-effective energy sources available. He went on to warn that retreating from these investments and weakening clean energy incentives has slowed project deployment, increased reliability risks, and driven up household energy costs. Congressman Krishnamoorthi also wrote that the study finds rolling back or weakening incentives created by the Inflation Reduction Act could increase delivered electricity prices by as much as 7 to 10 percent by the end of the decade, exacerbating affordability challenges for families and businesses already struggling with higher bills.

Congressman Krishnamoorthi requested responses to the following questions no later than January 20, 2026:

1. What actions has the Department taken since January 2025 to reduce interconnection and permitting delays affecting utility-scale wind, solar, battery storage, and transmission projects in PJM and MISO?
2. What analyses has the Department conducted regarding how changes to Inflation Reduction Act implementation affect clean energy investment and project timelines?
3. What steps has the Department taken to coordinate with PJM and MISO to address the bottlenecks identified in the Illinois Resource Adequacy Study?
4. Does the Department agree with the study’s finding that rolling back Inflation Reduction Act incentives may raise electricity prices by 7 to 10 percent? If not, please provide the Department’s alternative estimate and methodology.
5. Please provide all Department documents, memoranda, or analyses since January 2025 assessing reliability or consumer cost impacts associated with delayed clean energy deployment.

Congressman Krishnamoorthi concluded by stressing that federal energy policy decisions have immediate consequences for electricity affordability, grid reliability, and the financial security of Illinois families and businesses.

Congressman Krishnamoorthi has been a strong advocate for lowering energy prices for Illinoisans. In September, the congressman sent a letter to Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright warning about price hikes throughout Illinois. Congressman Krishnamoorthi then visited Windy City Wieners in Bloomington to discuss the impacts high energy prices are having on local and small businesses throughout the state.

The letter is available here.