A new season means new electric rates. That’s why we’ve updated our free calculator to reflect fall electric prices coming to Illinois. The CUB Power Calculator—a tool that shows how your utility’s supply rates stack up against an alternative supplier’s plan— can now provide a price comparison through May 2016.…...
Price Spike! Send a message to regulators today
Just a few days ago we found out that a recent electricity auction could increase power bills for typical Northern Illinois households by more than $80 in 2018-2019. After a similar auction sparked a 30 percent increase in power prices for Central and Southern Illinois earlier this summer, CUB warned…...
Higher electric bills again?
Here we go again. For the second time in less than a year Illinois consumers—first in Central and Southern Illinois and now in Northern Illinois—face significantly higher electric bills because of a flawed power-pricing system. And while electric customers will take the hit, big power generators like Exelon, NRG and…...
Statement: CUB Executive Director David Kolata on today’s capacity auction results
For the second time in less than a year consumers in the state—first in Central and Southern Illinois and now in Northern Illinois—face significantly higher electric bills because of a flawed power-pricing system. Illinois’ electricity market is not working well for consumers. This price spike is one more red flag…...
Victory! Governor vetoes bad water bill
We did it! More than 1,800 CUB Action Network members sent letters this year asking the General Assembly to oppose Senate Bill 1421— legislation that could have forced Illinois water customers to pay for services they never receive! The legislation passed, but CUB didn’t give up. Bryan McDaniel, CUB director of…...
“It kind of broke my heart.”
James Crawford needs his electricity. The 61-year-old lifelong Hartford resident depends on an oxygen machine to assist with his chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a condition that can make it hard to breathe. As a person suffering from several medical conditions while on a fixed income, Crawford also depended on the Percentage of Income…...
CUB staffer teaches her brother that being efficient pays
By Samantha Vercellino For years, Atukwe Newell listened to his younger sister (and CUB Staffer) Yami Newell, talk about the benefits of being energy efficient. But he wasn’t sold. Now he’s biting his tongue and singing his sister’s praises after she helped him cut his electricity usage about 50 percent…...
60 events! Outreach on record-setting pace in August
A big thank you to CUB’s Outreach team, which is on track to hold a record-breaking 60 money-saving events in August! The 10-member team is trying to beat the previous record of 57 speaking engagements, tabling events and utility-bill checkups across the state. Recently, the team traveled to Hillsboro, Maywood,…...