The Citizens Utility Board (CUB) on Wednesday thanked Gov. J.B. Pritzker for protecting Illinois consumers and issuing an amendatory veto on Ameren’s controversial “Right of First Refusal” legislation that the watchdog said would have needlessly raised costs for electric customers. An amendment to House Bill 3445 would have given Ameren…...
CUB Alert: ICC to Hold Public Forum on Ameren’s Proposed $481 Million Electric Rate Hike
The Citizens Utility Board (CUB) is asking consumers to make their voices heard at an Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) public forum on Ameren Illinois’ $481 million, four-year electric rate-hike request. The in-person event is: 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 19 at the Decatur Civic Center, 1 Gary K. Anderson Plaza, Decatur. …...
CUB Q&A: Peoria’s Power Deal
Ameren Illinois is the electric utility that serves Central and Southern Illinois. But while Ameren will always deliver the power to your home over its wires, under state law you can choose an alternative company to supply you with electricity. (That means a company other than Ameren will purchase electricity…...
CUB testimony recommends $492 million reduction in Ameren electric hike
Ameren Illinois’ proposed four-year electric rate hike should be slashed by at least $492 million, the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) announced Monday, citing expert testimony it filed. “While a utility has to maintain its system, Ameren should not get a blank check,” CUB Executive Director David Kolata said. “Our expert…...
CUB testimony recommends deep cuts in Ameren gas hike
Ameren Illinois is pushing to raise its profit rate for shareholders to a higher level than any other Illinois utility seeking a rate increase, the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) revealed Monday, as it urged regulators to slash the proposal by at least $59.2 million. “Ameren’s push to increase gas bills…...
Demand response: a win for you, the environment, and the grid
Demand response programs are opportunities for consumers to take an active role in lowering their electric bills, reducing stress on the electric grid, and cutting pollution. Sounds like a good deal. But what are “demand response” programs? At their core, all demand response programs incentivize consumers to shift their electricity…...
CUB pushes for relief for Ameren customers
Ameren customers have suffered under electricity prices that have doubled–and they’ve paid hundreds of dollars more to power their homes over the past year. That’s why CUB and other consumer advocates are urging the Illinois General Assembly to secure $200 million in electric bill relief. CUB covered the price spike…...
You’re a community solar customer in Ameren territory? Here’s what’s happening to your bills
By: Marina Minic Solar Programs Coordinator Community solar customers in Ameren territory have seen “bill adjustments.” CUB can explain: If you’re subscribed to community solar, you get a credit on your Ameren bill that corresponds to the amount of solar energy your subscription produced. That credit shows up as a…...
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…...
January gas prices still way up–will we see some relief in 2023?
Natural gas supply prices dropped for about half of Illinois’ major gas utilities from December to January, but the prices are still at significantly high levels for the second consecutive winter. “We’re hoping that sometime in the new year we’ll see these price spikes ease for all customers, but the…...
