Big Job Losses Expected From Rate Hikes

    A new study shows big job losses expected from electrical rate hikes.The Citizens Utility Board, CUB, is releasing data showing that more than 20, 000 Illinois jobs could be lost as a result of the Ameren and ComEd rate hikes this year.
    The rate hikes which took affect January 2 and is affecting families and small businesses. One local business is making cut backs because of big power bills. At Peerless cleaners workers are feeling the heat of the rate hike. The company's power bills have gone up 40-50 percent at all of its locations. Leaving workers struggling to make up the difference.
    "We are really trying to stretch those dollars out further. It may be less benefits that we offer our employees, the bottom line is that our employees are going to be hurt not only as consumers but also in the community, " said Debbie Whitney from Peerless Cleaners.
    Representatives Bob Flider and Naomi Jakobsson say their offices have been flooded with calls from people who say they've been forced to chose between eating and heating.
    "People are telling us, look I'm on a fixed income. I don't know how I'm going to do this," commented Representative Naomi Jakobsson (D) Urbana.
    Some workers worry about the future. They say they feel like they're getting hit by the rate hike twice, one at home with the big bill and now at work with less benefits.
    Representatives Flider and Jakobsson plan to re-introduce the rate freeze plan in front of legislation.