Congrats to Joel of Evanston! He was randomly selected to win a free CUB energy efficiency kit out of more than 1,000 people who took CUB’s Home Heating Quiz. Joel has won two LED light bulbs, a Kill A Watt electricity-usage monitor, a smart power strip, and an insulated CUB…...
Solarize Chicagoland surpasses summer goals, will install 135 solar arrays
The Solarize Chicagoland program surpassed its goals this summer, achieving commitments to install nearly 1,000 kilowatts (kW) of solar on 135 properties in the Chicago area. The Citizens Utility Board (CUB) and Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) launched this solar group-buy program in April, and the program’s participation deadline was…...
CUB’s 2019 Year in Review: ‘These victories are your victories.’
In CUB’s 35th year fighting for consumers, we set a new record for staffing money-saving events, marked a historic legislative victory, and worked on cases that have the potential to secure $90 million in refunds, rate cuts and other consumer benefits. CUB Executive Director David Kolata said this work is…...
Natural gas bills predicted to drop–unless you live in the Midwest
Midwesterners who use natural gas to heat their homes could see their bills go up slightly this winter season, even as the nationwide average drops, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). The EIA, the statistical arm of the Department of Energy, predicts that average gas bills in the Midwest…...
CUB: Clean Energy Jobs Act would “protect our pocketbooks and the planet”
Saying Illinois urgently needs the Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA) “to protect our pocketbooks and the planet,” CUB Executive Director David Kolata testified before a Chicago City Council committee today in support of a resolution endorsing the legislation now before the General Assembly in Springfield. The Committee on Environmental Protection…...
Nicor hike cut by 27%–but still too high for CUB
CUB helped reduce Nicor Gas’ record-high rate-hike request by more than $62 million, but the watchdog’s work isn’t over: It will challenge the state regulatory ruling to try to save consumers more money. On Oct. 2, just as the winter heating season began, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) granted Nicor…...
Five things to remember about your bills
In our first-ever “virtual utility bill clinic,” CUB members from 64 different cities across Illinois submitted their utility bills to get CUB’s unique utility-bill checkup service from the comfort of their own homes. CUB holds 400-500 events a year, but the virtual clinic was an attempt to reach people who…...
