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Rate hike

Why are my rates about to go up?

  Power prices in Southern and Central Illinois are set to skyrocket June 1.  But what’s behind this huge increase?  Read CUB’s Q&A to find out and take a short poll rating the electric market. If you haven’t already, join the 1,000+ CUB Action Network members who have sent a message…...

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Hey FERC: Investigate the rate hike!

Ameren customers recently received terrible news: Power prices will skyrocket June 1. It’s all because of an exponential increase in capacity costs—what consumers pay to ensure power plants are able to deliver electricity on the highest-demand days of the year.  The average household could see electric bills rise by as much as $150 annually…...

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Attorney General: Pump the brakes on Peoples pipeline project

In light of ballooning costs and allegations of mismanagement, Attorney General Madigan is asking Peoples Gas to back down from a pledge to complete its massive pipeline replacement project by 2030. In a brief filed March 27 with the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC), Madigan said that Peoples’ project has fallen seriously behind schedule…...

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April showers bring…special CUB umbrellas!

Don’t let rate hikes—and April showers—put a damper on your spring. With a donation of $25 or more, you’ll receive a special CUB umbrella (emblazoned with the CUB bear) to protect yourself from higher rates—and pesky thunderstorms. It’s a great way to ring in spring—and support CUB! Your donation will help…...

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Keeping up with $1.6 billion in Illinois rate-hike battles

Consumer wallets took a big hit in January, with four utility rate increases–and a new $53 million natural gas rate-hike request. On Jan. 1, ComEd and Ameren were awarded a combined electric rate increase of $436 million (about $232 million for ComEd and $204 for Ameren). CUB filed a  “petition for…...

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Déjà vu: Rate-hike edition

Ameren’s had $90 million in rate hikes since 2008, and now it wants more. In late January, Ameren Illinois filed for a $53 million natural gas rate hike, including  a return on equity (profit rate for shareholders) of more than 10 percent.  This is the same Ameren whose parent company earned more…...

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#GivingTuesday

Right now, you’re probably busy preparing for the big Thanksgiving meal, not to mention the craziest shopping day of the year. During these hectic times, CUB staff is working around the clock to block rate hikes and secure refunds for Illinois consumers.  We’re going up against a lot in 2015…...

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Your donation doubled

We have some great news today.  A longtime CUB supporter has offered to match all donations!  That’s right:  anything you donate will be doubled today only. This couldn’t have come at a more crucial time.  The utility parent companies have already raked in more than $8 billion in 2014 profits,…...

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They made how much?

We’re fighting the utilities in nearly $1 billion in rate-hike battles, but a review of their parent companies’ 2nd quarter earnings would have more than a few Illinois consumers scratching their heads as to why the companies need all that extra cash. The parent companies of ComEd, Peoples Gas, North Shore Gas,…...

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Which company grinds your gears?

Over 30 years of service, we have seen all sorts of utility mischief: sky-high bills, unresponsive customer service, confusing rates. And in a year of astronomical prices and frequent rate-hike requests, we know there’s still plenty to complain about. So here’s your chance to air it out: In honor of CUB’s 30th anniversary, we’re…...

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