Exelon's Illinois nuclear bailout bill (SB2814) received the endorsement of a House committee once again on Tuesday, with a newly amended version advancing to the House floor, but further revisions are expected to the bill before any final action, as backers work to have the bill approved prior to the December 1 end of the veto session

The latest amendment removes, as previously reported, provisions which would have mandated that retail suppliers pay for state-procured capacity in the Ameren service area, through a fixed resource adequacy plan. However, Exelon has said that stakeholders are, "reserving for discussion a proposal to achieve a solution sometime in the near future," concerning the proposed Fixed Resource Adequacy Plan for downstate capacity

The bill would establish a zero emissions credit program to provide Exelon nuclear plants with subsidies. Unlike in New York, the Illinois bill contemplates that retail suppliers would not be responsible for costs of the ZECs, with ZEC costs recovered by utilities on a nonbypassable basis

The bill would also transition renewable energy procurement obligations solely to the Illinois Power Agency, with costs recovered on a nonbypassable basis, effective June 1, 2019, with retail suppliers relieved of the renewable procurement compliance obligation

The latest version of the bill would also reduce to 1 the number of microgrids that ComEd may develop (apart from those related to reliability or security of its distribution system)