SPRINGFIELD - Senate Democratic leadership used a tricky legislative maneuver Friday to undermine the effort to lower Illinoisans' electric bills.

And they left one of their own in a tough political spot in the process.

In the end, the Illinois Senate voted 35-20 Friday to roll back Ameren customers' electric rates to their 2006 levels.

And they voted 34-24 to do the same for ComEd customers.

But Senate leadership sidetracked the ComEd vote with a rare and surprising legislative move that killed that provision.

Now, a measure to roll back rates for only Ameren customers moves to the House, where leaders immediately slammed the door on approving it without ComEd being included.

"No, it's a statewide issue so we've got to deal with it in a statewide manner," said House Speaker Michael Madigan spokesman Steve Brown.

With the House and Senate being clear about their support of two different proposals, a compromise isn't likely soon, leaving hard-hit residents grappling with high power bills.

The maneuver Friday was orchestrated by Senate President Emil Jones, who has opposed extending a 10-year freeze on electric prices throughout months of debate.

But Friday's move in the middle of debate was a surprise to state Sen. Gary Forby, the Benton Democrat sponsoring the freeze. Forby was left momentarily speechless at his Senate desk, asking nearby staffers and others what had happened.

Forby said he was "disappointed" Jones didn't tell him of previous plans to circumvent a positive vote.

"I don't mind a good fight," Forby said. "If he got enough votes against me and I got beat, I'd have felt a lot better losing the vote."

Forby supporters said they felt sorry for him.

"I'm very displeased with the shenanigans that went on today," said state Sen. Ira Silverstein, D-Chicago. "You were outmaneuvered."

'Quit giving people false hope'

But Jones defended the move saying, "We must quit giving people false hope."

Opponents suggested a rollback wouldn't work even if it was approved by lawmakers because the plan could get shot down in court.

"The Ameren Illinois utilities believe this legislation, if enacted, violates the United States Constitution and is not in the best interest of its Illinois residential or business electric customers, or the state's economy as a whole," read an Ameren statement released Friday.

Officials for the utility companies have said a return to 2006 rates would be a financial disaster for them that would lead to bankruptcy and interrupted service.

State Sen. James Clayborne, D-Belleville, said he had extracted millions of dollars in relief from the companies through negotiations with the companies, but Forby said it wasn't enough.

In Ameren's statement, officials said they're willing to continue those talks.

Even though Democrats hold a large majority in the Senate, both of Friday's affirmative votes came with Republican support. Many Democrats voted against both.

State Sen. Dale Righter, R-Mattoon, made a frantic attempt to keep ComEd included in the proposal, but he failed.

Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson, R-Greenville, said afterward he was stunned by the day's events.

"You'd have to be here to believe it," he said.

Electric rates for Ameren and ComEd customers in Illinois went up in January after a 10-year rate-freeze expired. Since the increases, the House has voted to roll back rates.

House, Senate quarreling

Still, Senate President Jones blamed House lawmakers for the current electricity controversy, saying the Senate has worked to negotiate relief and approved legislation in late 2006 to help customers cope with the increases.

"The House is the reason why the rates are so high for the people downstate," he said.

The clear friction between Jones and House Speaker Madigan could show up again soon as budget negotiations could begin in earnest in the coming weeks.

Later Friday, the Senate voted to prevent Ameren and ComEd from shutting off customers' power until Sept. 1, even if they haven't paid their bills. That measure still needs approval from the House, which returns to Springfield next week.

At that time, House lawmakers could also begin changing or debating the rollback plan, but Forby didn't express confidence in a compromise.

"Nobody's going to win," he said.