(800) 669-5556

Electric bills

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…...

Read more

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…...

Read 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…...

Read more

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…...

Read more

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…...

Read more

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…...

Read more

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…...

Read more

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…...

Read more

Why are my rates about to go up?

  Power prices in Southern and Central Illinois are set to skyrocket June 1.  But what’s behind this huge increase?  Read CUB’s Q&A to find out and take a short poll rating the electric market. If you haven’t already, join the 1,000+ CUB Action Network members who have sent a message…...

Read more

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…...

Read more