A coalition of West Side community organizations has asked the Illinois Commerce Commission to block Commonwealth Edison Co. from closing its West Side office, a move that would force the loss of 273 jobs.
Edison announced Dec. 23 that it planned to shut down the office at 5059 W. Polk St. as part of an austerity move, stating that it would save the company more than $14 million a year through reduced payroll and by eliminating the cost of running the building.
The Polk Street office houses a bill payment center, an emergency repair center and a customer information service.
Services performed by the West Side center would be taken over by Edison`s North Side office at 3500 N. California Ave. and its South Side office at 7600 S. Lawndale Ave.
The Austin-West Garfield United Communities, a coalition of five West Side community groups, said it is fighting the proposed closing because:
— Edison has presented no studies to show how the $14 million annually would be saved, and has made no guarantees that the money would be passed on to consumers.
— The closing would present a hardship to West Side residents, many of whom would have to travel more than seven miles to reach the other offices.
— The closing would have an adverse effect on the already deteriorating business climate in the area, which, according to Ald. Danny Davis (29th), already has lost about 800 businesses in the last 10 years.
John Hogan, a spokesman for Edison, said that most employees affected by the closing would be placed in other jobs within the company, but that Edison would eliminate 273 positions through attrition by not replacing other employees who retire or leave because of other reasons.
