By Scott Allen CUB Environmental Outreach coordinator As one of the CUB staffers (pictured here, at left) who helps people across the state cut their energy costs, I have a question for Illinois: Why are we waiting to pass the Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA)? In the middle of a public…...
Good news: Moratorium on shut-offs extended through March 31, 2021
The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) has announced that the state’s major utilities that have agreed to extend their moratorium on shut-offs through March 31, 2021. Remember, while the moratorium on shut-offs has been extended for many customers, the moratorium on late fees has ended. It’s important that you contact your…...
CUB services helping consumers cut their utility bills $26/month
CUB services have saved participants an average of about $26 a month on their utility bills, according to a staff review. COVID-19 may have brought CUB’s in-person events to a halt, but that hasn’t stopped CUB’s outreach team from working hard to serve consumers through online events and services. Along…...
Tell Washington: Affordable Internet for All
As you read this, an estimated 20-40 million people in the United States don’t have access to high-speed internet. Amid a global pandemic, that means children blocked from e-learning and seniors cut off from online medical appointments. “The digital divide is now a matter of life and death…” the U.N.…...
CUB review: Many community power deals no longer money savers
There was a time when municipal aggregation–electricity deals that local leaders negotiate for residents of a community–secured savings for consumers, but a new CUB review has found that most deals are no longer beating the utility rate. As of July 31, just 78 of the 555 total active municipal aggregation deals in…...
CUB staffer secures $4,800 refund from alternative supplier
If you’ve ever called CUB, there’s a good chance you’ve spoken to Jantay Gray, the woman who often answers our Consumer Hotline (1-800-669-5556). Jan is one of many outstanding consumer advocates on staff. This year, Sandra Marcelin-Reme, CUB’s director of consumer advocacy, sent the staff an email that exclaimed “WAY…...
Tell the White House: Illinois wants clean and affordable energy
We talk a lot about how some energy regulators appointed by President Trump have voted to revamp a special electricity market called the “capacity market.” And for months we’ve been warning that this development at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) could slam most Illinois consumers with up to $1.7…...
News you can use during a power outage
Storms that ripped through Illinois this week–more than 10 confirmed tornadoes in northern Illinois, including one in Chicago–left more than 800,000 ComEd customers and about 55,000 Ameren customers without power. If you are one of the unlucky ones who may not have power until Saturday, here are some helpful resources:…...
