Some good news: Gas prices for February continue the downward trend we’ve been seeing the last few months. Plus, recently the Energy Information Administration, the statistical arm of the U.S. Energy Department, eased its prediction on how much more Midwest natural gas customers could pay on average this winter–from 29…...
CUB analysis connects high power bills to dependence on fossil fuels
In a nationwide analysis of 2020 and 2021 data reported by electric utilities, CUB found that the country’s most expensive power bills tend to be concentrated in states with the largest share of energy harnessed from coal, oil and natural gas. Consumers in the northeastern and southeastern regions of the…...
‘Rate-hike barrage’: Illinois utilities launch unprecedented campaign to raise rates by a combined $2 billion+
CUB’s legal team faces an unprecedented challenge, as five of Illinois’ major utilities are asking for rate-hikes totaling more than $2 billion. Illinois consumers know how important this fight is–with the rising cost of living due to inflation, many of them face hard decisions. Nearly 34% of American households reduced…...
BREAKING: ComEd makes 4-year, $1.5 billion rate-hike request
ComEd will file with state regulators to hike its delivery rates by about $1.5 billion over four years beginning in 2024, Crain’s Chicago Business reported. In a statement, CUB promised to challenge the increase: “ComEd’s four-year, $1.5 billion request is terrible news on top of the record rate-hike requests that…...
Video: Protect yourself from utility disconnections
Protect yourself from disconnection with the following tips–and watch and share our new video. Be proactive. If you’re having difficulty paying your bills, call your utility. Here are the direct hotlines for major Illinois utilities: Ameren Illinois – 1-800-755-5000 Aqua Illinois – 1-877-987-2782 ComEd – 1-800-334-7661 Illinois American Water –…...
New electric rates for ComEd and Ameren customers in 2023
As of Jan. 1, ComEd and Ameren are charging new electricity rates. Here’s our breakdown: DELIVERY RATES What are delivery rates? Electric bills have two parts: delivery and supply. All of us pay delivery rates to cover the utilities’ costs of sending electricity over their wires to our homes–plus a…...
Peoples Gas pushing for $402 million rate hike– another fossil fuel increase!
Peoples Gas, which serves Chicago residents, was expected on Friday to file for a record $402 million rate hike–a roughly 59 percent increase in delivery rates, according to Crain’s Chicago Business. Its suburban sister company, North Shore Gas, also is expected to file for an $18.5 million, or about 19…...
Q&A: ComEd prices are up, but landmark clean energy law delivering about $1B in monthly credits on power bills
What happened? While ComEd’s electricity price has been elevated since June 1, the Climate & Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), historic clean energy legislation that Illinois adopted last year, is paying off for ComEd customers in the form of a monthly credit estimated to average about $18-$20 on electricity bills. CUB…...
Special Report: Municipal aggregation protecting customers from high prices–but what happens when the contracts end?
About 8 out of 10 electricity deals negotiated by communities across Illinois are saving residents money at a time of spiking energy prices. But dozens of those contracts, most in the central and southern parts of the state, are ending in December or January, exposing customers to higher power prices–for…...
