The Illinois Senate has overridden Gov. Pat Quinn’s veto of ComEd-supported legislation that will raise electric bills. The House will now take up the measure. ComEd says the proposal would increase the average residential bill of $82 per month by about 40 cents in 2014 and by about 80 cents in 2017.

Peoples Gas has dropped its request for yearly automatic rate hikes. Now, the Chicago Tribune reports that the utility wants a surcharge on natural gas bills, under legislation that also opens the door for Nicor and Ameren to get similar charges.

The deadline is fast approaching for CUB's Nest thermostat giveaway! A Nest programmable thermostat can help you cut your utility bills by up to 20 percent, and CUB is giving one away. You have until the end of the month to enter!

Electric customers will save money this summer, but northern Illinois consumers—even those with an alternative supplier—will see their bills rise next year, reports Crain's Chicago Business.

By a vote of 49-2, the Illinois Senate has passed a bill that would allow the state's biggest private water companies to fast-track takeovers of municipal water systems and automatically charge higher rates to fund those purchases. Read more about the bill that now heads to the governor's desk.

Illinoisans have sent 2,400 messages asking legislators to say NO to Big Telecom's plans for complete deregulation. Thank you! The telecom lobby's plans would open the door to higher bills, so if you haven't sent a message, please do so now.

Scammers are calling and knocking on consumers' doors posing as utility employees, and demanding quick payment to avoid a service shutoff. CUB's news release gives details on the scam and tips to avoid being ripped off.