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Ameren pushes billions in electric and gas rate hikes

In one month, Ameren Illinois has filed for a $160.4 million gas rate hike and a four-year, $481 million electric increase, and they couldn’t have come at a worse time.  “This is awful news for Ameren customers who already were suffering under some of the highest electric and gas supply…...

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February continues trend of lower gas prices–but they’re still higher than 2021

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…...

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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…...

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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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