Multiple developments in 2026—concerning proposals for rate hikes and water industry consolidation—could make conditions for long-suffering Illinois American Water and Aqua Illinois customers even worse, the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) said Tuesday, urging consumers to join the fight to slash private water rate hikes. (Read a pdf of CUB’s news…...
Sweaters, sunshine and bubblewrap: Your best winter energy efficiency tips
Consumers are a great source of information for CUB, and you proved it again this past Energy Awareness Month. We asked for your best winter efficiency tips, and you sent us more than 100 tips! We randomly picked one lucky tipster to win an 8-pack of super-efficient, 60-watt-equivalent LED lightbulbs.…...
As Peoples Gas parent announces 43.5% profit jump, advocates deliver 10,000+ public comments calling for rejection of Peoples’ $144M rate-hike request
CHICAGO – Concerned about the well-being of Chicago families this winter, consumer and environmental organizations delivered more than 10,000 public comments to utility regulators Thursday calling for deep cuts to Peoples Gas’ proposed $144 million rate hike. After delivering the public comments, utility customers and leaders of the organizations attended…...
Power-grabbing at PJM hits a new low
By Clara Summers Director, CUB’s Consumers for a Better Grid Campaign Governance reform at PJM Interconnection was always going to be hard. PJM is a contradiction in so many ways: it sets rules for the electricity market like a government, but is a private corporation. Its decision-making is controlled by…...
ComEd customers could be on hook for billions in data center-related costs, according to consumer advocates’ review of utility’s records
As the public backlash against data centers escalates across Illinois, newly disclosed records reveal that fees the controversial facilities paid to Commonwealth Edison over the last five years fell billions of dollars short of the total price tag expected to connect them to the electric grid. Public-interest groups warned Thursday…...
The basics on community solar offers in Illinois
This article provides general information on community solar offers–for details on specific offers, please go to SolarInTheCommunity.com, CUB’s community solar resource. If you are not already familiar with community solar, please read our Introduction to Community Solar first. How does a community solar offer work? When you sign up for…...
Data centers and your electric bills
Power bills are going up across the country, and the surge in data center development is a big reason. These facilities, which house computer systems used for storing, processing, and distributing digital information, use a tremendous amount of electricity–the largest data centers can consume as much energy as a mid-sized…...
FERC rejection of PJM data center plan makes state action last hope to protect consumers
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has issued a ruling on PJM Interconnection’s proposed large load plan, rejecting measures that would have held data centers accountable for their costs. The decision, which flies in the face of the White House Ratepayer Protection Pledge, gives Big Tech the green light to…...
