Good news! The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) made headlines this week after unanimously rejecting a plan that would have given extra money to coal and nuclear plants and could have increased electricity costs by up to $11 billion a year. Energy Secretary Rick Perry argued his plan would have…...
Net neutrality: Not. Dead. Yet.
You may have read headlines that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has killed the internet consumer protections we call “net neutrality.” But this fight is far from over, and that’s why we want you to act now! Pro-consumer lawyers are mounting a court challenge of the FCC’s vote, and members of Congress…...
Fight for net neutrality is just beginning
On Dec. 14, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is expected to make a big mistake regarding your internet. The FCC, led by new Chairman Ajit Pai, will likely vote for a plan that will decimate the internet consumer protections (also called “net neutrality”) the commission passed in 2015. Here’s why…...
Join the fight against a crippling solar tariff
This is a special update about a threat to clean energy—and we’re asking you to send a message to the White House to show your support for solar power. On Halloween, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC)—a federal agency that provides trade expertise to the White House—recommended that President Trump…...
FAQ on Dynegy’s legislation: Why you should oppose it
In the General Assembly’s October Veto session, Houston-based Dynegy is pushing legislation (Senate Bill 2250/House Bill 4141) to prop up its financially ailing coal-fired power plants. UPDATE: The bill stalled in 2017, but CUB fully expects the legislation to come back in 2018. CUB opposes the legislation. Here’s why you should…...
Step forward in Illinois: ICC OKs new protections against electric rip-offs
After three years of hard work by consumer advocates and regulators, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) today voted to finalize new consumer protections against electric rip-offs. The key rules require alternative electric suppliers to: -Obtain a third-party verification of a door-to-door sale or a “Letter of Agency” (documentation in which…...
Tell the White House: Don’t be weak on efficiency
Last week, Scott Pruitt, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), announced that he was repealing the Clean Power Plan — regulations designed to reduce pollution from power plants. Here’s one particular reason why that’s bad news: The plan would have given energy efficiency a significant boost, and that…...
Repeal of Clean Power Plan a blow to energy efficiency
When Scott Pruitt, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), began the process of repealing the Clean Power Plan, environmentalists from across the country decried the move. But there’s another reason to oppose the administration’s short-sighted actions to kill the plan: It offered the best opportunity to maximize investment…...
CUB on repeal of Clean Power Plan: Bad news for consumers
As expected, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency today issued a proposed rule to repeal the Clean Power plan. Read the statement by CUB Executive Director David Kolata: “Any attempt by the Administration to weaken or repeal the Clean Power Plan is bad news for consumers. The Clean Power…...
Tell Congress: Protect my Privacy!
Almost 143 million U.S. consumers — nearly half the country — may have had their personal data stolen when hackers targeted credit rating agency Equifax in “the most brazen failure to protect consumer data we have ever seen,” according to Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey. Members of Congress have demanded…...
