Springfield City Council considers repealing 'high load' discounts

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) - Springfield City Council is moving forward with steps to repeal discounts for so-called "high load" customers.

The city previously offered the discounts to potentially attract new businesses.

CWLP said the city can no longer afford to offer cheap power to these customers and needs to protect its grid before a large-scale data center is proposed.

"You fast forward to today, where we closed three coal-fired units, and we only have one coal-fired unit; there is no way we could provide power to a large center like that," said CWLP Chief Utility Engineer Scott Rogers.

If the ordinance is repealed, Rogers said new large-load customers would have to negotiate an electrical rate like any other business.

He added that several data center developers have reached out to the city.

Council will debate the proposal next week.