The chilly, wet days of November are officially upon us, but luckily CUB has a number of events to help you stay warm while saving money. Below is a round-up of events CUB is staffing in November. Most of them are virtual events, which means you can “attend” them and…...
Memo from the General Counsel: CUB’s consumer battles
By Julie Soderna, CUB General Counsel Below is a rundown of key consumer battles in our caseload. In summary, we helped reduce utility rate hikes by a total of $85 million, and we helped negotiate $2 million in refunds and energy assistance from three alternative suppliers accused of violating state…...
Ameren takes a step toward smart EV charging—how will it work?
By Sarah Moskowitz, CUB deputy director I don’t often find myself excited about something utilities do, but Ameren Illinois surprised me awhile back when they submitted a tariff offering a special program to electric vehicle (EV) owners who charge their cars at home. The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) approved the…...
Chicago residents would save thousands by switching from gas to electric heat, CUB study finds
With winter heating bills projected to balloon by as much 35 percent and Peoples Gas customers struggling to afford the utility’s controversial pipe-replacement program, a study released Thursday by the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) finds that Chicago residents could slash their energy costs by up to $47,000 over the next…...
CUB’s Newest Consumer Guide Aims To Help Renters
The Citizens Utility Board (CUB) has released a free guide to help renters navigate the utility world. Consumers can order a free, printer-friendly copy of “A Renter’s Utility Guide: Go Green, Cut Costs and Learn Your Rights” by visiting www.CitizensUtilityBoard.org. “It can be difficult for renters to find clear, comprehensive information…...
Winter preparedness: Weatherstripping
Using weatherstripping in your home to seal air leaks is a simple and effective way to improve energy efficiency and save money on heating bills. Weatherstripping can also protect the integrity of your home’s insulation by preventing warm, moist air from escaping through it. But before you take a trip…...
Consumer Alert: CUB launches online help center as natural gas prices surge
With Chicago-area consumers facing the possibility of hundreds of dollars in higher heating bills this winter due to skyrocketing natural gas prices and out-of-control utility spending, the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) on Monday launched an online help center to advise gas customers on how to soften the blow of these…...
ComEd and Ameren electricity prices up in October
Electricity supply prices charged by Commonwealth Edison and Ameren Illinois have increased by 10 percent and 19 percent, respectively, as of October 1. Now that a pandemic-related ban on door-to-door marketing has been lifted, CUB warned Illinois consumers to beware of unscrupulous alternative supplier sales representatives that may try to…...
$1 Nest thermostat offer through Oct. 11
ComEd customers can now purchase a Google Nest thermostat—a device that can help you cut your heating and cooling costs—at a deep discount: $1 through Oct. 11. Who is eligible for the $1 Nest thermostat offer? The offer is only available to ComEd customers through the utility’s online buying platform:…...
