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Utility spending on rate-hike cases shows what CUB is up against

20160925_reducedcablepouch_fbSince 2010, Illinois’ biggest utilities have spent $40 million trying to raise consumer rates before the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC)—an amount that could fund CUB’s entire outreach, legal and consumer advocacy operations for at least 15 years.

The lofty figure illustrates what CUB’s legal and policy teams are up against as they fight more than $4 billion in rate-hike battles before the ICC.

To give some background, state law allows electric, natural gas and water utilities to require customers to pay a large portion of their legal fees. These fees, hidden on our utility bills, cover the costs the utilities accrue hiring outside legal firms and experts as they fight for rate hikes.

CUB supports legislation in Springfield that would require Illinois utilities to make shareholders—not ratepayers—cover such fees.

In the meantime, these figures give a glimpse into the utilities’ deep war chests.

“No question, we have to be on top of our game against the utilities’ high-priced lawyers,” said CUB General Counsel Julie Soderna. “But CUB has helped cut utility bills by more than $20 billion over the years because we know how to operate on a tight budget and we have Illinois consumers on our side.”

Here’s how the $40 million figure breaks down for individual utilities:

ComEd: $10.5 million
Nicor Gas: $7.2 million
Peoples Gas: $6.8 million
Illinois-American Water,
Aqua Illinois: $6.8 million
North Shore Gas: $5.7 million
Ameren Illinois: $3.4 million

Total: $40.4 million

Join the fight against $4 billion in higher rates. (If you give a donation, we’ll send you a special gift–in September only!)