(800) 669-5556

Policy/legislation

Fighting for your rights at the nation’s largest power grid

Our electric bills are affected not just by a local utility, like ComEd or Ameren Illinois, but also by large power grid operators with funny names like “PJM” and “MISO.” That’s why CUB launched a campaign called Consumers for a Better Grid.   The campaign’s mission is to hold grid operators,…...

Read more

Springfield Alert: Your action needed to stop “Right of First Refusal” proposals pushed by electric utilities

Remember last year’s big consumer victory, when Gov. J.B. Pritzker vetoed Ameren Illinois’ “Right of First Refusal” proposal? The plan would have needlessly raised costs for electric customers by giving Ameren a monopoly over transmission projects in its territory, and, thus, eliminating a competitive bidding process. It would have been…...

Read more

Illinois Legislators Join the Push for Greater Grid Transparency with HB4747

Legislators from five states are joining together to introduce legislation to increase the transparency of electric utilities’ involvement in PJM, the Regional Transmission Organization (RTO). PJM manages the power grid over 13 states and the District of Columbia, from the Midwest to the East Coast. The legislators are from Illinois,…...

Read more

CUB Q&A: What is the Clean and Affordable Buildings Ordinance (CABO)? 

The Chicago City Council is considering the Clean and Affordable Buildings Ordinance (CABO). CABO is supported by a coalition of more than 50 consumer, community, environmental, environmental justice, and faith organizations, including CUB, because it will lower utility costs, improve public health, create jobs and reduce pollution. (Read the news…...

Read more

ICJC News Release: Mayor Johnson, Ald. Hadden, Business Leaders, and Environmental Justice Advocates Announce Introduction of Clean and Affordable Buildings Ordinance (CABO)

With nearly 1 in 5 residents behind on their gas bills and gas rates continuing to increase, Mayor Brandon Johnson and Committee of Environmental Protection and Energy Chair Ald. Maria Hadden (49) announced Tuesday the introduction of the Clean and Affordable Buildings Ordinance (CABO). The proposal would require newly constructed…...

Read more

Good news: Ameren pulls back ‘Right of First Refusal’ legislation–but this fight is far from over

UPDATE: Good news from the Fall Veto Session. It was reported on Oct. 25 that Ameren, for now, has thrown in the towel on its attempt to override Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s veto of a bill that would have given it a monopoly on building billions of dollars in transmission lines.…...

Read more

CUB calls on ICC to reject record rate hike for Peoples Gas after agency official recommends big increase for utility

An administrative law judge for the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) has issued a “proposed order” recommending that the ICC approve a record-high $350 million rate hike for Peoples Gas, awarding the company the vast bulk — 87 percent —of the $402 million increase it has sought from regulators.  The recommended…...

Read more

CUB’s Daily Herald Op-Ed: Private Water, Big Headaches

CUB Director of Governmental Affairs Bryan McDaniel recently penned an op-ed in the Daily Herald responding to Lake County’s water outage with private water utility Aqua Illinois: The recent Aqua Illinois water outage/boil order in Lake County is further evidence that private corporate monopolies are not the answer to our…...

Read more

CUB’s guy in Springfield thanks consumers for their involvement

By: Bryan McDaniel CUB Director of Governmental Affairs Given all the action on energy legislation in the General Assembly over the last few years, 2023 proved a little quieter, until the end of session when Ameren muscled through a proposal to give themselves a monopoly over transmission lines in their…...

Read more

Governor pushes for better accountability of gas utilities (we agree!)

Governor J.B. Pritzker recently wrote an op-ed in the Chicago Sun-Times calling on gas utilities to be made more accountable to consumers and state regulators. The op-ed comes in the wake of news that gas utilities are pushing for a record $887 million in rate hikes.  CUB and other consumer…...

Read more