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Updates

Spring into savings with CUB’s energy efficiency tips

It’s time to get your home ready for warmer weather. Remember: Energy efficiency is just as important during the spring and summer as it is during the winter so make sure to include these home maintenance tasks on your spring cleaning checklist:   Air conditioning maintenance. Clean or replace your air…...

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Shining a light on ComEd (and power grid operators)

Did you know that your electric bills are affected not just by the local utility, like ComEd, but also by large power grid operators, like “PJM”? PJM is the largest grid operator in the nation, managing the flow of electricity over high-voltage transmission lines that serve 65 million people from…...

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Natural Gas dethroned in poll for “Worst Bill”

We received more than 100 responses to our “Worst Bill” poll, and for the first time in three years, gas isn’t on top. Cable takes the cake for the most dreaded bill with 38 votes. Here’s what some consumers had to say about their cable bills: “Our Comcast cable bill…...

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Joint Release: AARP IL, CUB call for legislation to prohibit utilities from charging customers millions for self-serving PR campaigns, rate-hike legal fees

Illinois utilities would be prohibited from charging customers potentially tens of millions of dollars for self-serving purposes to increase their political power and advance their agenda, including goodwill advertising, political-issue campaigns and bankrolling high-priced legal teams working to win rate hikes against consumers, under legislation supported by the Citizens Utility…...

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CUB Statement on Illinois American’s $152 Million Rate-hike Request

Citizens Utility Board (CUB) Executive Director Sarah Moskowitz released a statement today about Illinois American Water’s $152 million rate-hike request before the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC): Illinois American’s $152 million rate-hike request is severe and greedy—the company is pushing for an excessive profit rate for its shareholders—and CUB will do…...

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Illinois’ two biggest private water companies push for rate hikes

Last year’s rate-hike barrage was bad enough, but now water companies want in on the action. CUB learned this week that Illinois American Water and Aqua Illinois both want rate increases. Aqua Illinois on Jan. 17 filed a $19.2 million rate-hike request with the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). Aqua estimated…...

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In 2024, CUB celebrates 40 years of fighting for consumers

Remember how bad it was before the Citizens Utility Board (CUB)? It was the spring of 1983, and Gov.  “Big Jim” Thompson was in a packed theater in southern Illinois pitching a tax increase—but people were more interested in what he would do about utility bills. What he said sparked…...

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CUB statement reacting to Peoples Gas’ announcement of another likely rate hike: In the midst of a woeful heating bill crisis for consumers, utility is “unrepentant,” must be opposed

The Citizens Utility Board (CUB) has discovered that Peoples Gas on Thursday filed a document (see Verified Petition for Waiver) with the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) that raises the specter of another rate-hike request in 2024.  CHICAGO—Hours after its latest effort to squeeze more money out of consumers collapsed yesterday,…...

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Know your power price and beware of bad electric deals

As of this past fall, ComEd and Ameren Illinois are charging new electricity supply rates through May of 2024. Ameren Illinois: 8.107 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for up to 800 kWh of usage. Every kWh beyond that is 7.094 cents per kWh. This is about a 30 percent DECREASE from…...

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CUB explainer: Who pays for transmission lines? Take a look at your power bill

By: Clara Summers Campaign Manager Consumers for a Better Grid (a project of CUB) The long transmission lines that crisscross the country are key to keeping our lights on and getting cleaner, more affordable energy to the people who need it most. But like most things in life, they don’t…...

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