As utility regulators at the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) near a final decision on its year-long investigation into the troubled Peoples Gas pipeline-replacement program, consumer and environmental organizations delivered more than 5,000 public comments calling for reform. “On behalf of AARP’s 250,000 members in Chicago and all older adults in…...
CUB Statement on Nicor Gas’ Proposed $309 Million Rate Hike
Nicor Gas’ campaign for a state-record rate hike of about $308.6 million–which is closer to $325 million when including taxes–is unjustified, and CUB will fight it. Illinois’ largest gas utility has now asked for five brutal rate hikes in less than a decade, causing hardship for customers by increasing gas…...
Illinois Future of Gas: Electrification Meeting Pt. 2 – November 18, 2024
By: Scott Allen, Energy Policy Specialist On Monday, November 18, the Future of Gas workshop wrapped up its exploration of building electrification as a decarbonization pathway. The previous workshop (November 4) focused on residential and industrial opportunities, while this time the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) discussed commercial appliance switching…...
BREAKING: ICC grants Aqua Illinois $11.6 million rate-hike
The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) on Thursday cut Aqua Illinois’ rate-hike request by about 40 percent, granting the water utility an $11.6 million increase. CUB called the ICC’s Final Order a step toward reining in a utility that was the subject of intense criticism for high rates and poor water quality from customers who…...
Illinois Future of Gas: Electrification Meeting Pt. I – November 4, 2024
By: Scott Allen, Energy Policy Specialist Today’s Future of Gas workshop began with an announcement: between now and Dec. 6, 2024, the ICC will be accepting decarbonization pilot project ideas from interested stakeholders. It wasn’t immediately clear how these pilots could be put into effect–or indeed if they ever would…...
CUB update: What about those appliance rebates in the Inflation Reduction Act?
CUB gets a lot of questions from consumers wondering when they’ll be able to enjoy appliance rebates offered through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). We’ve got information about where Illinois is in the process of launching that rebate program–as well as some proposed changes to it. The IRA, federal legislation…...
Illinois Future of Gas: The Energy Efficiency Meeting
By Scott Allen, Energy Policy Specialist The purpose of this workshop (10/21/24) was to discuss the role and importance of energy efficiency in decarbonizing the gas system. In a word, I’d describe this workshop as “dizzying.” During these workshops I’ve become accustomed to the gas industry making fantastical claims that…...
PJM broke the capacity auction–but here’s how they can fix it
By Clara Summers, Campaign Manager Consumers for a Better Grid (a project of CUB) The electricity price for Illinois’ largest power utility, Commonwealth Edison, will go up significantly next summer because of a recent auction to secure reserve power. Grid operator PJM announced that its recent “capacity” auction sent prices…...
PowerMarket: CUB’s evaluation of PowerMarket’s community solar offer
PowerMarket is a community solar company offering subscriptions to income-eligible ComEd and Ameren customers. If you are not already familiar with Community Solar, we recommend reading CUB’s Introduction to Community Solar first. This is an income-eligible offer, but it is not through the state program designed for lower-income customers, Illinois…...
