Timeline Stories

CUB challenged a state-record $2.9 billion in electric and gas rate-hike requests from major Illinois utilities, helping to reduce them by a total of $1.6 billion. The landmark regulatory rulings also temporarily halted major capital projects planned by Peoples Gas, Ameren Illinois and ComEd, until those companies could answer questions…...

CUB helped win a $38 million refund for customers in the wake of the ComEd corruption scandal. It also helped secure major tax-related refunds for electric customers ($434 million for ComEd customers, and $50.8 for Ameren Illinois customers) in a much quicker schedule than the utilities wanted....

CUB helped pass the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA). This historic energy legislation set a goal of 100 percent clean energy for Illinois, expanded efficiency standards that had already saved consumers billions of dollars and made low-cost solar power accessible to more Illinois residents....

CUB worked with Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and other consumer advocates to pass the HEAT Act, one of the nation’s strongest laws against alternative gas and electric supplier rip-offs....

As an active member of the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition, CUB helped pass the Future Energy Jobs Act (FEJA), sweeping energy legislation that included a historic boost to money-saving efficiency standards....

CUB and other consumer advocates helped win a $72 million refund for Nicor Gas customers....

CUB helped lead the “rate-hike” rebellion of 2007, after an Ameren and ComEd power-pricing plan sent bills soaring. In response, state legislators killed the plan, ordered $1 billion in consumer refunds and created the Illinois Power Agency, charged with securing the lowest prices possible for consumers....

CUB helped uncover an illegal profit-sharing deal between affiliates of Peoples Gas and Enron Corp., resulting in a record $100 million gas refund....

CUB helped defeat anti-consumer legislation and saved ComEd-Illinois Power customers $2.6 billion....