History was made earlier this week when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) unveiled the Clean Power Plan to reduce carbon emissions by nearly one-third by 2030. Today in Chicago, U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush, and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan joined the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition (of which…...
Give your AC a helping hand during heat waves
Twenty years ago, I was struggling through the infamous 1995 heatwave…by cuddling with frozen vegetables. As a cub reporter for The Associated Press in Milwaukee, I spent my days (July 11-27, 1995) helping to record a heart-breaking toll: 85 heat-related deaths in Milwaukee, another 465 in Chicago. My nights were…...
Good riddance to obnoxious exit fees
In the General Assembly’s spring session, CUB championed the only major energy legislation to get passed—a bill that says sayonara to bad fees. State lawmakers unanimously approved a bill (HB 3766) that would cap exit fees charged by alternative power suppliers. Residential and small-business customers get slapped with these fees when…...
Beat the heat—and high energy bills this summer!
By Samantha Vercellino As the temperature rises, here’s a checklist to help you stay cool—and save money—through another scorching Illinois summer. Make sure your AC is sized properly. Contrary to popular belief, a larger unit will not cool a room better. Unlike an oversized AC unit, a properly-sized one will be more…...
“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…...
Congrats to CUB’s “Green in 2015 Giveaway” winners!
By Samantha Vercellino Congratulations to Valeri DeCastris of Rockford and John Ivory of Arlington Heights! Both are the lucky winners of a $100 top prize for participating in CUB’s “Green in 2015 Giveaway.” “I’m just so thrilled to have won, especially since I have been a CUB member and huge supporter…...
CUB saves consumer from $1,887 mistake
By Samantha Vercellino Nobody likes to receive the monthly power bill, but that rings especially true for Kay Uhrin—whose April statement said she owed $2,230.54! Stunned, the Rockford-area resident immediately called ComEd who claimed she had used 18,223 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity in 29 days. (That’s more than triple her…...
New power prices in Illinois
Summer is around the corner, bringing with it warm days, sunshine, flowers, and…new electric rates. ComEd customers can breathe a little easier starting June 1, as the utility’s price to compare will drop to 7.04¢/kWh through Sept. 30. That’s a decrease of about 7 percent from the current rate (7.572¢/kWh). Ameren…...
