Henry T. never could have imagined that when he assisted his elderly mother with paying her bill, it would come back to bite him. Unfortunately, that’s what happened. This summer, the Chicago resident received a bill of $3,000 from ComEd—for an apartment he never lived in! The bill was for…...
A showdown with big power generators at the U.S. Supreme Court
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court began hearing oral arguments in a case that promises to have a major impact on future energy costs in the United States. The Supreme Court is reviewing a 2014 Appellate Court decision that stripped the Federal Regulatory Energy Commission (FERC) of the authority to promote and regulate “demand-response” programs in the energy market. What…...
CUB endorsement: Programs to help lower your gas bills!
Over the summer, we asked our CUB Action Network members if they wanted to know more about CUB’s favorite energy efficiency programs. The answer was a resounding: YES! So without further adieu, here is a deep dive into two programs being offered to gas customers in Northern Illinois: the energySMART program from…...
How Chicago buildings can help lower prices, keep the lights on
The magnificent Chicago skyline draws tourists from around the world, but it fascinates CUB for an entirely different reason: It has the potential to become a powerful tool in our never-ending quest to make the electric grid more efficient and less costly for consumers. CUB is working with the Environmental…...
A “smart” way to save money
Smart thermostats—devices that allow you to remotely control your temperature settings from your smart phone, tablet, or home computer— are a great way to save energy and money on your utility bills. Now, consumer advocates hope to see these innovative devices installed in one million homes with the help of special…...
Hello October, hello lower gas prices!
By Samantha Vercellino As October rolls in, consumers begin preparing themselves for the arrival of two things: Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Lattes and higher utility bills. But Illinoisans may be singing a different tune this heating season, because major Illinois utilities are charging consumers 25-27 percent less to heat their homes…...
