As we head into the winter heating season, CUB urges eligible consumers to apply for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding. The application process reopens. Oct. 2. Here’s the schedule for this fall: Oct. 2: LIHEAP begins taking applications for seniors (age 60 or older), people with disabilities…...
Update on record-breaking rate hikes in 2023
By Eric DeBellis CUB General Counsel Regulatory Counsel Laura Loyd and I are dealing with a record six rate cases, totaling a whopping $2.9 billion. Where do the rate cases stand? Over the past year, CUB has filed expert testimony uncovering the utilities’ attempts to get state regulators to approve…...
CUB Thanks Gov. Pritzker for Protecting Customers, Vetoing Expensive Ameren ‘Right of First Refusal’ Provision
The Citizens Utility Board (CUB) on Wednesday thanked Gov. J.B. Pritzker for protecting Illinois consumers and issuing an amendatory veto on Ameren’s controversial “Right of First Refusal” legislation that the watchdog said would have needlessly raised costs for electric customers. An amendment to House Bill 3445 would have given Ameren…...
Years of Failure: With record-breaking rate hike pending, Peoples Gas pipe-replacement program once again over-budget, behind schedule
As Peoples Gas pulls in record profits and pushes for an unprecedented rate hike, the Chicago gas utility’s pipe-replacement program failed to hit its goals for the 22nd consecutive quarter, according to a report it submitted to state regulators this week. The program also ended the quarter over-budget, as it’s…...
Should customers fund ComEd’s “marketing charm offensive”?
Crain’s Chicago Business recently wrote how ComEd wants customers to help pay for the utility’s “marketing charm offensive” in the wake of its corruption scandal. In a proceeding before the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC), Attorney General Kwame Raoul is urging state regulators to make ComEd, and not its customers, pay…...
CUB asks Illinois consumers to support the Ethics in Energy Act
It’s bad enough that utilities join industry and trade groups that push bad, anti-consumer policy. But it’s even worse that consumers actually foot the bill for those activities. That’s right, our monthly gas and electric bills help cover the utilities’ membership dues to groups that actively work against our interests. …...
August gas prices are relatively low, but it’s always a good time to prepare for winter
Illinois utilities have filed their August gas prices with the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) and they’re fairly consistent with what we saw in July. Seven utilities reported a slight increase from last month, at most roughly a 22% increase in price for Consumers Gas. We’re relieved that the supply rates…...
