A class action lawsuit has been filed against Southern Illinois’ Prairie State Energy Campus on behalf of electricity ratepayers in Batavia, Illinois.
The suit alleges the power company was misleading regarding the plant's relation to the city and energy prices.
Prairie State also supplies power to Paducah and Princeton, Kentucky where ratepayers saw skyrocketing bills last winter.
Michael Childress is an attorney involved in the case. He says the town’s high rates lack a clear explanation.
“We’re looking for answers to why the electric rates keep going up to a significant degree," Childress said.
"And then the other thing we’re looking for is money to subsidize our clients for the payment of the exorbitant rates."
A statement released by Prairie State Generating Company addressed the suit.
Prairie State Generating Company is not named a defendant. PSGC is a named respondent in discovery under state law to facilitate the process of subpoenas for documents, and to that end, it is preparing its response. Participant-Owners eagerly anticipate the full discussion of these allegations during the litigation process. PSGC and its Participant-Owners remain committed to serving its communities with safe, environmentally-responsible, baseload electricity.
Childress says the case also names Peabody Energy and three of their subsidiaries as respondents in discovery.
The plaintiffs have six months to determine whether any of these respondents will be added as defendants.
