SPRINGFIELD - A House panel fired yet another salvo in the legislative battle over high electric rates Thursday.

But, the move to roll back rates to 2006 levels came without the support of Republican lawmakers, who say the plan is destined to fizzle in the Senate.

"I see no resolution in sight," said state Rep. Jim Durkin, R-Countryside. "We're at a stalemate. It will die on the vine in the Senate."

Durkin's comments came during a committee hearing in which a plan to roll back rates for hard-hit customers of Ameren and ComEd was sent to the House floor on a 5-0 vote. Four Republicans voted "present" on the measure.

It is the third time the House has entertained rate rollback legislation since last fall, but it came just days after ComEd was stripped out of the plan by Senate President Emil Jones, D-Chicago.

Jones' move convinced Republicans that the latest version, in which ComEd was placed back in the legislation, would meet the same fate if it moves back to the Senate.

"I'm not going to participate in a scam," said state Rep. Bill Black, R-Danville.

The volleying between the House and Senate began heating up in January after ComEd and Ameren raised their rates after a 10-year freeze expired. Some customers saw their power bills jump by more than 100 percent.

Both companies say they have crafted rate relief packages that could take the sting out of the increases. They warn that rolling back rates would send them into bankruptcy.

"We believe this is a better approach than rate freeze legislation," ComEd spokesman Bill McNeil said of his company's relief package.

"I think we've put together a fair and generous package," added Ameren spokesman Mike Sullivan.

The Illinois Commerce Commission, meanwhile, reported that its probe into the pricing practices of the two companies could take until the end of summer to complete.

That's not fast enough for some lawmakers, who worry that summer air conditioning costs could drive up power bills for many Illinoisans.

"For crying out loud, this has to be resolved and resolved fast," said state Rep. Carolyn Krause, R-Mount Prospect.

The legislation is Senate Bill 1592. It could be voted on in the House on Friday.