(800) 669-5556

Illinois American

Consumer advocates attend Bolingbrook public forum to speak out against Illinois American Water’s $152 million rate-hike request

AARP Illinois and the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) on Monday urged state regulators to reject Illinois American Water’s proposed $152 million rate-hike request at an Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) public forum in Bolingbrook. The increase would be Illinois American’s third rate hike since 2016. (Read the full news release here.)…...

Read more

Buried in $493M in overdue bills: ICC database shows urgency of Illinois reining in big utilities

In one month alone, major electric, gas and water utilities in Illinois reported that more than 1.3 million of their customers were buried in $493.6 million in debt, according to April numbers the companies were required to file with the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). “A lot has changed over the…...

Read more

News Release: CUB testimony uncovers $50 million in overcharges in Illinois American Water’s proposed rate hike

Testimony filed by the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) has uncovered about $50 million in overcharges buried in Illinois American Water’s proposed rate hike, criticizing the company for seeking an excessive profit rate and charging customers millions for executive bonuses, CUB said Thursday (HTML and pdf versions of the news release).…...

Read more

ICC grants Illinois American Water $85M rate hike (CUB helped cut increase by $14M)

Illinois American Water, the largest private water company in the state, has increased rates by about $85.4 million.  The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) on Dec. 15 granted Illinois American the increase after an 11-month rate case. The water company had requested a $100 million rate hike last July. “While we’re…...

Read more

Advocates push for cutting $18.8 million off Illinois American Water rate-hike request

CUB argues that Illinois’ biggest private water company is pushing for an exorbitant profit rate for its shareholders, and its $100 million rate-hike request should be reduced by nearly 20 percent.   The consumer watchdog group co-sponsored testimony from Christopher Walters, an expert on water regulatory issues with Brubaker & Associates,…...

Read more

CUB Q&A: Illinois American Water’s rate-hike request  

What happened?  In February, Illinois American Water filed for a $87.4 million increase in rates before the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). How much will this cost customers? The rate hike includes a $65.7 million, or 27 percent, increase in water service rates and a $21.7 million, or 59 percent, increase in…...

Read more

Update: Illinois utilities sharing $350 million in tax savings with customers

CUB’s legal team and other consumer advocates were busy in the first few months of the year working to make sure Illinois utilities rightfully shared their newfound tax savings with customers. As a result, customers will see $350 million in lower rates. Due to legislation passed in Washington late last…...

Read more

From the Desk of David Kolata: CUB Executive Director’s New Year Report

This report is a thanks and tribute to CUB’s supporters. You are working for a better Illinois, and I’m grateful to you. I know it’s easy to get discouraged these days, but remember that you are part of an Illinois success story. Together, here’s what we accomplished in 2017: Legal/Policy:…...

Read more

From the CUB archives: Great moments in “customer service”

This 2005 letter is in our Hall of Fame of goofy customer service. The poor guy was one of many in Orland Park to complain about skyrocketing water bills–and Illinois-American Water said his grass was too green!...

Read more

Help Julie and Christie fight rate hikes!

CUB has launched its annual consumer campaign in June to rally Illinoisans against billions of dollars in rate hikes. We hope every community in Illinois signs our Rate-hike Fighters Petition. Take a look at the rate-hike battles  CUB General Counsel Julie Soderna and Senior Attorney Christie R. Hicks are juggling before…...

Read more