Public Accountability Report
Illinois Power Agency
(Appropriated Spending in Thousands)
| FY |
FY |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reporting Programs | Expenditures | Headcount | Expenditures | Headcount |
| Electricity, Renewable Resources, Clean Coal Resource, and Photovoltaic REC Procurement | $ 35,325.6 | 38.0 | $ 25,828.3 | 24.0 |
| Totals | $ 35,325.6 | 38.0 | $ 25,828.3 | 24.0 |
Amounts may not sum to total due to rounding.
Agency Narrative
The Illinois Power Agency Act provides Illinois eligible retail electric consumers with adequate, reliable, affordable, efficient, and environmentally sustainable electric service at the lowest total cost over time. To that end, the Illinois Power Agency (“IPA”) is required by statute to develop electricity procurement plans to ensure electric service at the lowest total cost, taking into account any benefits of price stability.
Public Act 102-0662 (the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act) enacted in September 2021 (Fiscal Year 2022) significantly expanded the budget and goals of the Renewable Portfolio Standard, expanded the Agency’s procurements and program scope, and included a new emphasis on labor, equity, and diversity standards. In fiscal year 2023 the Agency expanded in size as it continued to implement those provisions.
To support the Illinois Renewable Portfolio Standard, the Agency develops a Long-Term Renewable Resources Procurement Plan, which is updated every two years. The first update of that plan was completed in the spring of 2020, and an update to incorporate the requirements of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act was completed in August 2022. The Agency then conducted competitive procurements for new utility-scale wind and solar projects and for brownfield site solar projects in December 2022 and June 2023, and continued to administer the Illinois Shines Program (previously the Adjustable Block Program) to support the development of solar projects for Illinois homes and businesses, and the Illinois Solar for All Program to support the development of solar projects for low-income households and communities on an ongoing basis. In June of 2022 the Agency launched the Minimum Equity Standard that applied to most renewable energy projects participating in Agency programs and procurements.
The electricity procurement plan is updated on an annual basis. The calendar year 2023 Procurement Plan developed by the IPA, and approved by the Illinois Commerce Commission, included the procurement of energy resources for Ameren Illinois, ComEd, and MidAmerican Energy. Those procurements took place in September 2022, February 2023, and April 2023.
