SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Rate freeze proposals are on hold at the state Capitol today as top lawmakers try to negotiate an acceptable relief package for soaring electric rates.

Democrats and Republicans have been meeting off and on since last night with top utility officials on how to provide hundreds of millions of dollars of rate reductions and credits.

Rate freeze measures are pending in the House and Senate and could still move forward later today, the final day of lawmakers' scheduled spring session.

But lawmakers say they're hoping the pressure of rate freezes forces the utilities to increase their $500 million offer.

They also predict that even if a deal isn't reached today, they'll have time to keep working because the session is likely to go into overtime.