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‘Rate-hike barrage’: Illinois utilities launch unprecedented campaign to raise rates by a combined total of $2.9 billion

CUB’s legal team faces an unprecedented challenge, as five of Illinois’ major utilities are asking for delivery rate hikes totaling $2.9 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…...

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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…...

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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 –…...

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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…...

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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…...

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Q&A: ComEd prices are up, but landmark clean energy law has delivered monthly credits on power bills

What happened?  ComEd’s electricity price has been elevated since June 1, 2022, but the Climate & Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), historic clean energy legislation that Illinois adopted in 2021, has delivered more than $1 billion in credits on electricity bills. CUB is pleased Gov. J.B. Pritzker and a bipartisan group…...

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Want to get more involved with CUB? Run for a CUB board position

CUB’s Board of Directors is elected by members from each Congressional District—and all districts are currently up for election, as prescribed by the CUB Act.  Nominating petitions are due January 30, 2023, and the election will be held May 31. If you are interested in running for the CUB Board,…...

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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…...

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December natural gas prices fall for many utilities–although they’re still painfully high

For the second straight month, natural gas prices have dropped for all or most of Illinois’ utilities. But most gas customers are still paying about double or worse than they did just two years ago for the volatile fossil fuel. “Nobody has a crystal ball, but we’re thankful for this…...

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2022 End-of-year Report from CUB Executive Director David Kolata

By David Kolata CUB Executive Director This has been a tough year, with skyrocketing energy bills, thanks to volatile natural gas prices and aggressive utility spending. The CUB team needed Illinois consumers in 2022, and you came through for us. Thank you! Please know that our goal every year is…...

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