As we enter the dog days of summer, Illinoisans who have signed up for ComEd’s Peak Time Savings or Ameren’s Peak Time Rewards programs will have the chance to earn credits on their power bills. These no-cost programs for people with new digital electric meters give participants a credit for reducing electricity…...
Join CUB’s Community Action Campaign
This June we’re challenging EVERYONE in Chicago to join CUB’s Community Action Campaign. In the battles below, Julie, CUB’s general counsel, is up against the best lawyers the utilities can buy. She can’t beat them alone, which is why you and your neighbors must join the fight. Remember they only win when…...
BREAKING: ComEd has filed for a $96 million rate hike
“A rate hike is never good news for consumers,” CUB Executive Director David Kolata said. “CUB will conduct a detailed review of ComEd’s $96 million rate-hike request, and we will challenge every penny the company can’t justify.” Help us fight the hike! Send a message to state regulators against ComEd’s…...
Free CUB clinic to analyze electric, gas, phone bills in Chicago, show how to cut costs by hundreds of dollars a year
The Citizens Utility Board (CUB) will analyze utility bills at a free clinic to help Chicago residents save potentially hundreds of dollars a year. Consumers should bring their gas, electric and phone bills for a free, one-on-one consultation with a CUB expert, who will search for ways to lower their…...
Is this electric pitch legit? CUB breaks it down
Members of CUB’s consumer advocacy department (CAD) take thousands of inquiries each year, so they’ve heard all about the crazy pitches consumers receive from alternative electric suppliers. Last week, Sandra Marcelin-Reme—a veteran of the department—shared one consumer complaint that shows the type of trickery consumers are up against. Take a look at the…...
The day in the life of a CUB outreach staffer…
By Annabelle Roser As solar energy becomes more accessible to everyday consumers, the financial incentives of owning solar panels can be hard to pass up. The benefits of subsidizing or eliminating your energy bills through net-metering can be especially enticing to retirees or those on fixed incomes. Recently, I met…...
Good news- $17 million ComEd rate cut!
We thank the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) for approving a $17.5 million Commonwealth Edison rate cut. This is good news for ComEd customers. While building a more reliable power grid is a major undertaking, ComEd’s customers shouldn’t have to pay a penny more than what the utility can justify. This…...
What should you ask when considering an alternative electric supplier?
If you’re looking into signing up with an alternative electric supplier, make sure to look at this checklist before you put your name on the dotted line. For more information, including a complete list of current alternative supplier rates, get CUB’s no-cost “Guide to Avoiding Electric Rip-offs” emailed to you....