Temperatures are expected to drop AGAIN this week. (Anyone else reminded of the movie Groundhog Day?) Wednesday might see lows between 0 and -10 degrees with a wind chill of -20 degrees to -30 degrees! The cold spike is expected to have some nasty consequences for your gas bill. Nicor’s…...
Energy Reports: Helpful or Headache?
Not too long ago, CUB began noticing an uptick in complaints about periodic “energy reports” being sent to consumers from the utility companies. The reports give consumers information about their home’s natural gas and electricity usage, include tips on making homes energy efficient, and compare energy usage to neighbors. While the…...
The ups and downs of Ameren rates, 2014
Ameren customers received a $45 million electric rate cut, as they were hit with a $32 million natural gas rate hike. So how does that affect 2014 bills? Both changes—ordered by the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) late last year—impact the delivery part of our bills. That’s what you pay Ameren…...
Take CUB’s Survey: Have you received a utility energy report?
Imagine this: You get a letter from your electric or gas utility that has colorful bar graphs and says something like this, “You used 21% more natural gas than your neighbors. That cost you about $102 extra.” Or maybe, your electricity/gas usage compares favorably to your neighbors and your energy…...
Polar vortex price spike? Read all about it!
At about the same time the “polar vortex” slammed Illinois with record cold this month—it also generated some heat from consumers who complained to CUB about an unheard of spike in electricity prices. That’s right, electricity prices. About eight out of 10 Illinois homes heat with natural gas—so what business…...
Say hello to LEDs
New federal efficiency standards marked the death of the traditional incandescent light bulb in 2014. You have three new options for bulbs now: incandescents that meet the new standards (usually made with halogen), compact fluorescent lights (CFL), and light-emitting diodes (LEDs). We’ve made a nifty infographic for you to learn more…...
