Although Halloween classics like Count Dracula, Freddie Krueger and Michael Meyers cause a fright, few things are scarier than paying high energy bills. In honor of the spooky season, CUB staffer Cate York created a new video, “Beware High Bills: A Halloween Special.” It’s a fun, quick summary of the…...
Consumer Alert: Could alt suppliers be knocking on your door again?
Breaking News Update, Nov. 5: Victory for Consumers! The Illinois Commerce Commission voted 3-2 today to keep the moratorium in place. Thank you to all the Illinoisans who used CUB’s Action Network to help send 1,000 messages to state regulators in favor of keeping the ban in place. Your activism makes…...
A CUB How-To: Downloading Your Bills
CUB often encourages consumers to sign up for online billing through their utility. It’s convenient and easy, and there are oftentimes perks or programs that are only available through an online account. But navigating a new online space can be confusing, so CUB staffer Cate put together a few videos…...
October gas prices up from last month, down from 2019
The winter heating season is upon us, but while natural gas prices are up from last month, many utilities are charging less than they did last October. Still, there’s bad news from one of the state’s biggest utilities: Crain’s Chicago Business reports that winter bills for Peoples Gas, which serves…...
New Power Prices for Ameren, ComEd Customers
As of October 1, ComEd and Ameren are updating their electricity supply prices to reflect non-summer pricing. According to the companies, these are the new Ameren and ComEd prices through May 2021: Ameren (for people living in Ameren’s geographic service territory) Usage of 0 to 800 kilowatt-hours (kWh): 4.542 cents per kWh*…...
CUB review: Many community power deals no longer money savers
There was a time when municipal aggregation–electricity deals that local leaders negotiate for residents of a community–secured savings for consumers, but a new CUB review has found that most deals are no longer beating the utility rate. As of July 31, just 78 of the 555 total active municipal aggregation deals in…...
Gov. Pritzker calls for energy legislation to put gas surcharge on the chopping block
CUB has long called on Springfield to end a special surcharge that allows natural gas utilities to quickly raise customer bills to pay for infrastructure developments. This time, Springfield gave us some good news. In a 13-page document released last week, Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office outlined eight principles that will…...
Governor revives clean energy discussions with focus on accountability, affordability
Saying the “need for comprehensive energy reform in Illinois has never been greater,” Gov. J. B. Pritzker’s administration reopened discussions on legislation to protect Illinois consumers and move the state to 100% clean energy, giving hope to advocates who have urged passing legislation this year. (Send a message to the…...
The clock is ticking: pass CEJA and save our power bills
When the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission voted 2-1 in favor of a proposal pushed by out-of-state power generators, the clock started ticking. The commission’s December 2019 decision overhauls the rules that govern the price we pay for electricity — it would ultimately prop up fossil fuel companies and force consumers…...
