Far too many people are struggling to afford their utility bills, so it’s important to know the process for applying for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). According to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), the LIHEAP application period is October 1, 2024, to August 15,…...
Op-Ed: Private water customers in Illinois are crying for help. Will the General Assembly listen?
By Sarah Moskowitz CUB Executive Director Hundreds of customers of Illinois’ largest private water utility packed an Illinois Commerce Commission public forum in Bolingbrook one recent summer night. They were fed up with how high their bills are now — and that Illinois American Water wanted to raise them by nearly…...
Solar Landscape: CUB’s evaluation of Solar Landscape’s community solar offer
This is an evaluation of Solar Landscape’s community solar offering. If you are not already familiar with community solar, we recommend reading CUB’s Introduction to Community Solar first. How will signing up for the Solar Landscape community solar offer affect my electric bill? Solar Landscape will look at your annual…...
Solar Simplified: CUB’s evaluation of Solar Simplified IL Solar for All community solar offer
Solar Simplified is a community solar company offering subscriptions to income-eligible Ameren customers, through the Solar for All program. If you are not already familiar with community solar, we recommend reading CUB’s Introduction to Community Solar first. Learn more about Solar for All. How will signing up for the Solar…...
CUB’s report on August Gas prices
There are a few examples of the gas market volatility in August, including one company seeing a 153 percent increase in its supply price and another seeing a 76 percent decrease from last year, according to CUB’s review of Illinois’ gas market. Gas utilities file supply prices–called the Purchased Gas…...
News release: Bipartisan group of lawmakers join with CUB to oppose water rate hikes, call for legislative reforms
As frustration mounts among 1.5 million private water customers in Illinois, state legislators from both sides of the political aisle joined the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) on Wednesday to urge state regulators to reject rate hikes proposed by Illinois American Water and Aqua Illinois, call on the General Assembly to…...
Op-Ed: ComEd, fix this billing mess (and don’t make customers pay for your mistakes)
By Sarah Moskowitz Executive Director Citizens Utility Board It’s ironic that Commonwealth Edison, a company that touts itself as a clean energy champion, has bungled its billing system so severely that it has stalled a program that has been a clean energy success story in Illinois: Community Solar. Consumers who…...
Protect yourself from utility disconnections
Protect yourself from disconnection with the following tips. 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 – 1-800-422-2782 Nicor Gas – 1-888-642-6748 North…...
Buried in $493M in overdue bills: ICC database shows urgency of Illinois reining in big utilities
In one month alone, major electric, gas and water utilities in Illinois reported that more than 1.3 million of their customers were buried in $493.6 million in debt, according to April numbers the companies were required to file with the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). “A lot has changed over the…...
CUB reports on April Gas prices
April gas prices are generally down, with some reminders of the expensive volatility of the market, including a 59 percent increase in one utility’s price from last year, according to CUB’s review of Illinois’ gas market. Gas utilities file supply prices–called the Purchased Gas Adjustment (PGA)–each month with the Illinois…...
