The Illinois General Assembly has passed the Future Energy Jobs Act, one of the most significant pieces of energy legislation in the past 20 years. CUB members should know about this new law. What is it? The Future Energy Jobs Act (Senate Bill 2814) is a compromise bill that was…...
Budget cuts = higher utility bills
BREAKING: An initial budget plan from the White House calls for costly cuts that will lead to higher utility bills. (ACT NOW!) These are among a long list of programs targeted for elimination: Energy Star: Provides assistance for energy efficiency programs. Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): Assists low-income families with heating…...
Stop: The “Raise Our Utility Bills Act”
New legislation was introduced in Washington this month that would kill efficiency standards and potentially hit Americans with billions of dollars in higher utility costs. H.R. 117 is called the “Energy Efficiency Free Market Act of 2017,” but a better name would be the “Raise Our Utility Bills Act.” The…...
General Assembly passes historic energy efficiency standards
On the last day of the General Assembly’s veto session, legislators passed Senate Bill 2814, a measure that will spark lower utility bills by establishing historic energy efficiency standards for Illinois’ biggest electric utilities. On Thursday evening, the Illinois House passed the measure, also called the “Future Energy Jobs Bill,” 63-38,…...
Breaking: CUB throws support behind Future Energy Jobs Bill
The Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition–including CUB, One Northside, and Illinois People’s Action–now supports Senate Bill 2814, the Future Energy Jobs Bill, after months of hard work improving the legislation. CUB is pleased with a provision in the bill that would push energy efficiency standards to historic levels in Illinois, helping…...
Tell legislators: Strong energy efficiency standards
Any day now, the Illinois General Assembly could be voting on major energy legislation. In Illinois we have a historic opportunity through this legislation to require utilities to dramatically expand their investments in energy efficiency, lowering our utility bills by at least $4 billion and helping to create tens of…...
South suburban mom scores smart thermostat
Saving energy and money have always been top priorities for Anam El-Jabli and her family. But the purchase of a new air conditioner last year made it hard for them to afford other appliances. Then the stay-at-home mom read about CUB’s Smart Thermostat Giveaway in the group’s weekly e-newsletter. “I’m an active follower…...
Q&A: The Attorney General’s Settlement with Ethical Electric
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has reached a settlement with a Washington, D.C.-based alternative electricity supplier, Ethical Electric Inc., for misleading direct mail solicitations of its “green” offers. Under the settlement, Ethical, which has been a top source of consumer questions or complaints to CUB, promises to pay customers refunds.…...
