Buy out Edison, panel tells city

Chicago should buy Commonwealth Edison's local operation andtake over the job of providing electricity to the city, a mayoraltask force said in a report released Thursday.

As an alternative, the report said, the city could negotiate forcheaper electricity but definitely should not renew the currentcontract with Edison to provide power to the city.

Mayor Daley said through a spokesman that he would reservecomment on the report until after he has read it.

"Notice to acquire and notice to terminate" the presentagreement should be given to Edison by Dec. 31, the Mayor's TaskForce on Energy said after a nine-month study of the city'selectricity …