As it attempts to dominate the state’s private water landscape through an aggressive acquisition strategy, Illinois American Water is pushing a rate hike that would overcharge customers by at least $54 million–including an exorbitant profit rate for shareholders and executive bonuses, according to expert testimony filed by the Citizens Utility…...
CUB’s report on gas utility prices: June 2026
While several gas utilities in Illinois, thankfully, reported lower prices compared with last June, one company, Liberty Utilities, reported a spike of about 33 percent, according to a CUB review of June prices. Illinois utilities file their supply price, called the Purchased Gas Adjustment (PGA), each month with the Illinois…...
Springfield Update: Illinois fails to pass POWER Act–but data center fight “far from over”
Despite hundreds of advocates rallying in Springfield to protect Illinois consumers from high power bills caused by data centers, the Illinois General Assembly adjourned in the wee hours of June 1 without voting on the POWER ACT (Senate Bill 4016/House Bill 5513). [Update: In a major development after the session…...
Op-Ed: Illinois AG’s bill credits a bit of good news–but Peoples Gas fight far from over
By Sarah Moskowitz, CUB Executive Director After years of hearing from so many Chicago families fed up with their escalating heating bills, we were happy that Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul was able to deliver some good news to long-suffering Peoples Gas customers—in the form of bill credits coming their…...
Update on Ameren and ComEd summer power prices
While Ameren Illinois and Commonwealth Edison have not officially announced what their summer electricity prices will be, the Chicago Tribune has reported some estimates. The bad news is power prices will continue to be elevated, and the major reason is soaring energy demand caused by new and proposed data centers. Here’s…...
ICJC News Release: New Poll shows Illinois voters back POWER Act by overwhelming margins
A new statewide poll of likely 2026 voters shows the POWER Act (SB4016/HB5513) enjoys broad, bipartisan support across Illinois, according to a news release from the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition. Nearly 70 percent of voters support legislation to hold data centers accountable after hearing just a brief description of the…...
CUB General Counsel’s Report on 2026 legal cases
The following is a report from CUB General Counsel Eric DeBellis to Executive Director Sarah Moskowitz on major cases CUB’s Legal Team is tackling in 2026, including $571 million in rate cases before the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). If you are concerned about these rate hikes, please take action by signing…...
Consumer alert: Illinois utility bills cover millions in hidden expenses that advance the utilities’ agendas, but have zero consumer benefit
Many Illinois consumers have no idea that their electric, gas and water bills cover tens of millions of dollars in self-serving utility expenses that have zero consumer benefit, but advance the agendas of Illinois utilities and increase their political power, consumer advocates warned Wednesday, while delivering thousands of petitions to…...
