Energy efficiency can help soften the blow of high summer bills. Check out some top tips to stay cool, safe and energy efficient: Be safe. Efficiency means staying safe and cool, while reducing your energy waste. Raising your thermostat by a few degrees and using a ceiling fan can lower…...
Affordability crisis: Illinois consumers grapple with overdue utility bills as winter weather draws near
Heading into what could be the most expensive heating season Illinois consumers have seen in more than a decade, many utility customers across the state are already behind on their utility bills. Nearly 170,000 Peoples Gas customers, about 20 percent, are more than 30 days behind on their natural gas…...
Your Winter To-Do List: Save Money, Keep the Chill Out
Grocery stores have started selling Halloween candy, and Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spiced Latte is back on the menu: Fall is upon us, and chilly weather isn’t far behind. Start preparing for colder temps with these five to-dos to keep your home warm and safe this winter. Weatherstripping – Weatherstripping can be…...
State: Illinois electric customers overpaid by $431 million with alternative suppliers
Illinois consumers who buy their electricity from alternative suppliers collectively paid $431 million more in the last year than they would have by sticking with their utility, according to a new report from the Illinois Commerce Commission’s Office of Retail Market Development. From May 31, 2020 through May 31, 2021,…...
Study reveals October disconnection surge
Special consumer protections and a ninefold expansion in utility bill assistance in 2020 helped keep disconnections low during widespread economic stress caused by the pandemic, with the exception of October. In October 2020, disconnections doubled as utilities lifted their ban on shut offs, according to a new Tufts University study.…...
New power prices for June 1, 2021 to September 30, 2021
As of June 1, ComEd and Ameren are charging new prices for electricity. It’s important that you know the price for electricity to protect yourself from bad deals being peddled by alternative power suppliers. Illinois consumers have lost more than $1 billion to these suppliers since 2015. Under these market…...
Utility Diaries: A Month of Bills in Urbana, Illinois
In Utility Diaries, we look at what different households across Illinois pay in a month for utility expenses. Today’s household consists of two people in a rented house in Urbana. Housing Background Location: Urbana, IL Household Size: 2 people Housing Type: House Rent or Own: Rent Square Footage: 1,215 Year…...
CUB urges Illinois consumers to contact their utilities to access consumer protections
The Citizens Utility Board is urging Illinois consumers to contact their utility companies immediately to take advantage of consumer protections available to them due to the pandemic. A state moratorium on shutoffs expires on April 1, so it is vital that people who are struggling to afford their bills get in…...
