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Efficiency

June 1: The day a 30% increase in power prices took hold in Central, Southern IL

The fight against a 30 percent increase in power prices is heating up, just as the hike takes hold in Central and Southern Illinois. Here are the latest developments: The new prices took effect on June 1: 5.974 cents per kWh (zone 1) 5.911 cents per kWh (zone 2) 5.966…...

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“Always-on” electronics costing consumers billions

“Always-on” electronics and devices cost users $19 billion per year when not in use, according to a new report from the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC). $19 billion.  Billion with a “b.” That’s about $165 a year in extra electricity expenses for the average household.  How is this possible? It’s…...

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Breaking: Stage is set for a Supreme Court showdown over your electric bills

Today, we have good news for energy efficiency— and your future power bills. The Supreme Court announced that it will review a 2014 Appellate Court decision that stripped the Federal Regulatory Energy Commission (FERC) of its authority to promote, regulate and help develop “demand-response” programs in the energy market. Demand response refers to programs…...

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Editorial roundup: the battle to protect electric customers in Springfield

Springfield is abuzz with two very different pieces of energy legislation, one that could help electric customers and another that could hurt them. One is  the Illinois Clean Jobs bill (House Bill 2607/Senate Bill 1485), which would increase energy efficiency and renewable energy standards in Illinois.  A CUB analysis found that the…...

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Utilities stand in the way of money-saving pricing plans

If there was a program that could reduce demand on the power grid AND lower your electric bills AND cut harmful pollution, you would think that was a pretty good plan, right? The big electric companies disagree. CUB recently asked state regulators to explore the idea of ComEd and Ameren offering an optional…...

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Electricity updates: The good, the bad, and the ugly

The last 24 hours have been a whirlwind of electricity-related developments.  We’ve got some good news and bad news for Illinois consumers. First, the good. We’ve been saying for years that efficiency pays— and now we have the proof.  A CUB analysis released this morning shows that the Illinois Clean Jobs…...

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What’s in an audit?

Oak Park resident Alan Goldberg (father to CUB’s very own environmental outreach coordinator, Laura Goldberg) knew his home was a little “drafty.”  But he had no idea just how much energy he was losing— until he got a home energy audit. A home energy audit is an assessment of your…...

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Congrats to Illinois’ top energy savers!

Energy efficiency pays, and there’s nobody who knows that better than the top energy savers in the state! These Illinois cities and neighborhoods have registered the highest electricity savings through CUBEnergySaver.com, CUB’s free online service that can show a consumer how to cut power bills by hundreds of dollars a…...

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How to save $650+ per year

Little steps can have a big impact on your pocketbook. Just ask Northbrook resident Tracey Becker, who slashed her power bills by 30 percent this year, in part by taking simple actions recommended by CUBEnergySaver.com, the Citizen Utility Board’s (CUB) free online service that builds a customized money-saving plan for your home.…...

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CUB/EDF propose an IL first: Community Solar

Power to the people, right on. -John Lennon Mr. Lennon would have appreciated the “community solar” proposal that CUB and the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) have made before the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). The proposal would smash barriers that have kept families from enjoying the benefits of renewable energy. Imagine entire neighborhoods getting…...

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