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Electric bills

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…...

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Baby, It’s Cold Outside

Just when we thought we were out of the woods, another record-breaking arctic blast has taken the country hostage. We know many of you are dreading your impending utility bills, so before it’s too late, find out how to cut costs and avoid the polar vortex punch. First, join CUB…...

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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…...

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Tell the ICC: Protect the Ameren rate cut!

It’s not often you get good news about your electric bill, but Ameren customers were happy to hear that the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) ordered a $45 million electric rate cut, which went into effect on Jan. 1. Unfortunately, it didn’t take long for Ameren to file a “petition for…...

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New year, new electric rates

ComEd introduced a $340 million rate hike starting in 2014. With your help, we are challenging the increase with a “petition for rehearing.” But in the meantime, we want you to know about the new rates you’ll be seeing on your bill. The increase is part of a state law to…...

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CUB on Fox Chicago: How to keep your home warm in the bitter cold

CUB’s consumer alert sparked a live interview on Fox Chicago. A cold snap like this shows how important energy efficiency is! Watch CUB’s Fox interview here....

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7 tips for protecting your home from the ‘damn cold’

The experts say Illinois is getting slammed by a “polar vortex,” a rotating pool of frigid air bringing dangerous, record-low temperatures and wind chills of up to 50 degrees below zero. But one Chicago native had a simple way of describing it: It’s “damn cold.” The same energy efficiency tips…...

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Last-minute gift guide, for the energy nerd in all of us!

Around this time of year, I’m usually on the naughty list–the one my wife keeps. That’s because I’m still rushing to get that one last gift for the family member who has everything. For all those last-minute shoppers, we’ve put together a guide to energy-related gifts that save money, and…...

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A Holiday surprise for some CUB fans

As everyone prepares to celebrate the season, three fans of our Facebook page got goodies from CUB in our recent Holiday Giveaway. Jeff from Chicago won $50 off his gas or electric bill. “Wow, I’m surprised to win!” Jeff wrote.   Pam from Bloomington won a string of LED holiday…...

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Q&A on ComEd and Ameren rate hikes

What happened? On Wednesday, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) voted to give ComEd a $340 million electric rate hike. It also voted to give Ameren a $32 million natural gas increase. How much are rates going up? ComEd said the average household bill will see an increase of about $5.50…...

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