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Podcasts

Introduction to IRPS KEYS

This is a series of video podcasts that highlight the contributions and perspectives of key policymakers in the State of Illinois.

Unlocking the Doors to Regulatory Policy Progress

IRPS KEYS: Mark Pruitt

Mark Pruitt was the first Director of the Illinois Power Agency. The Illinois Power Agency is in charge of procurement of electricity for customers who stay with the distribution utility under bundled rates. He is Principal at The Power Bureau and has advised numerous communities on municipal aggregation. Before the IPA, Mark worked at the Energy Resource Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago as a Senior Program Manager.

IRPS KEYS: Tom Wolf

Tom Wolf was Executive Director of the Energy Council at the Illinois Chamber of Commerce. He recently moved to be the Director of Communications and External Affairs at BP. Before that, he worked in the consulting industry in Chicago for various clients including energy clients. Wolf Podcast Timeline.

IRPS KEYS: Anthony Star

Anthony Star is the Director of the Illinois Power Agency which plans and procures energy for Commonwealth Edison and Ameren customers who have not switched to alternative suppliers. He was Commissioners’ Assistant to Chairman Doug Scott at the Illinois Commerce Commission. Before that, he worked at the Center for Neighborhood Technology.

IRPS KEYS: Sherman Elliott

Sherman Elliott is currently consulting as part of Sherman J. Elliott, Consulting. He was a Commissioner at the Illinois Commerce Commission. Previous to that, he worked in regulatory affairs at MISO. Before moving to MISO, he worked as a Commissioners’ Assistant and staff economist at the Illinois Commerce Commission.

IRPS KEYS: Jackie Voiles

Jackie Voiles is the Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs for Ameren Illinois.  Jackie Voiles started her energy career as a rate analyst with Illinois Power.  She served on the Board of Advisors of the Institute for Regulatory Policy Studies. She discusses the numerous regulatory changes that have taken place during her career at Illinois Power/Dynergy/Ameren Illinois.  Voiles Podcast Timeline.

IRPS KEYS: Richard Mathias

Rich Mathias is Senior Consultant with PJM Interconnection which is a regional transmission organization. He was Chairman of the Illinois Commerce Commission from 1998-2003. Chairman Mathias speaks about changes in the electricity and telecommunications industry during his time at the ICC. Mathias Podcast Timeline.

IRPS KEYS: Jim Monk

Jim Monk is President of the Illinois Energy Association, which represents investor-owned electric and natural gas utilities and electric generators in Illinois. He created the organization in 1994 and has been its president ever since. He was in the legislature in Indiana and served as the Chairman of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. Monk Podcast Timeline.

IRPS KEYS: Karl Wardin

Karl Wardin is Vice President of State Regulatory Affairs at AT&T. In this podcast, Mr. Wardin reviews the history of regulation in the telecommunications industry with a special focus on the mergers and changes that took place in Illinois. Wardin Podcast Timeline.

IRPS KEYS: David Kolata

David Kolata is Executive Director of the Citizen's Utility Board (CUB). David joined the CUB staff in July of 2001 as a Senior Policy Analyst before rising to Executive Director. Before coming to CUB, he was a Policy Analyst at the Environmental Law & Policy Center where he focused on transportation and suburban sprawl issue. Kolata Podcast Timeline.

IRPS KEYS: Marty Cohen

Marty Cohen, of Martin Roth Cohen & Associates, discusses the long history of regulatory reform in Illinois and delivers his perspective on key decisions that were made along the way. Mr. Cohen was the Executive Director of the Citizens Utility Board, the consumer advocate for residential customers in Illinois. He also served on the Board for the Institute for Regulatory Policy Studies for many years. Mr. Cohen held several positions in state government including Acting Chairman of the Illinois Commerce Commission. Cohen Podcast Timeline.

IRPS KEYS: ICC Chairman Doug Scott

In this podcast, Chairman Doug Scott of the Illinois Commerce Commission, reviews his role in crafting the 1997 Electric Restructuring Act when he was in the Illinois Senate and the key decisions that he made during his tenure as Head of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. Scott Podcast Timeline.

IRPS KEYS: Phil O'Connor

In this podcast, Phil O'Connor, President of PROactive Strategies and former Chairman of the Illinois Commerce Commission, discusses the long history of regulatory reform in Illinois and delivers his perspective on key decisions that were made along the way. O'Connor Podcast Timeline.

A Simple Discussion of Electricity Markets in Illinois

Illinois Power Agency

In this video podcast, Dave Loomis and Adrienne Ohler discuss role and function of the Illinois Power Agency (IPA) and the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). In 2007, the Illinois Power Agency was created to purchase or procure electricity for residential customers in Illinois. Dave Loomis talks with experts to understand the goals and objectives of the IPA and ICC, and how the creation of the IPA led to municipal aggregation.

1997 Restructuring Act Rate Freeze

In this video podcast, Dave Loomis and Adrienne Ohler discuss the structure of electricity markets in Illinois. Between 1997-2007, residential electricity prices were essentially fixed or frozen. Dave Loomis talks with experts to understand why policymakers cut and froze prices. The impact of the '97 Restructuring Act helped to increase the efficiency at nuclear power plants, but stifled competition in the residential electricity market. As a consequence, the Illinois Power Agency was created in 2007 to help reduce rates.

What is Deregulation?

In this video podcast, Dave Loomis and Adrienne Ohler discuss the structure of electricity markets in Illinois. Since 1997, electricity markets have been deregulated, but what that means for customers can be confusing. Dave Loomis talks with experts to try to understand how electricity is provided by generating companies and distributed by utility companies, so that the consumers have more choices in who provides their electricity.