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CUB’s report on gas market volatility: July 2026

While five major gas utilities in Illinois reported lower prices compared with last July, several are charging higher supply rates—including Liberty Utilities and Consumers Gas, which are charging a whopping $1.03 per therm and $1.83 per therm this month, respectively, according to a CUB review of gas supply prices. Illinois…...

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CUB’s money-saving events in July

As we face another hot summer, the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) is holding free events to give you money-saving energy efficiency tips to help you stay cool and safe without wasting energy.  We hope to see you at an event soon!  10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Friday, July 10, Chicago…...

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CUB uncovers hundreds of millions of dollars in questionable Ameren spending

CUB’s expert testimony has uncovered hundreds of millions of dollars in questionable spending in Ameren Illinois’ proposed four-year plan for improving its power grid. The watchdog warned that the costs of the plan should be reduced substantially to prevent electric bills from being unaffordable.   (Sign CUB’s petition urging the ICC…...

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CUB testimony uncovers $1 billion+ in questionable ComEd spending

CUB’s expert testimony has uncovered more than $1 billion in questionable spending in Commonwealth Edison’s proposed four-year plan for improving its power grid. (Sign CUB’s petition urging the ICC to hold ComEd accountable.) The consumer group said it was disappointed to see ComEd propose another bloated, expensive grid plan–even after…...

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ComEd’s Hourly Pricing: How to calculate your capacity charge

Want to estimate your capacity charge before signing up for ComEd’s Hourly Pricing program? Here’s how to calculate it: 1. Go to this page:  https://secure.comed.com/MyAccount/MyService/Pages/UsageDataTool.aspx, choose “View Summary Data Online,” and “Add” your ComEd Electric Choice ID. (The ID is located in the “Service Address” section of your bill.) 2. Click…...

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ComEd ($234 million), Ameren ($65 million) push for extra ‘reconciliation’ delivery rate hikes

As millions of Illinois consumers face spiking electricity supply prices this year, Commonwealth Edison and Ameren Illinois are pushing to increase another part of our power bills, delivery charges, by a total of $299 million.  The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) has already approved four-year rate plans (through 2027) for both…...

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‘Very, very grateful”: CUB helps 92-year-old electric and gas customer secure $1,500 refund

Guadalupe, a 92-year-old Waukegan resident, had no idea that attending a CUB event would result in her receiving a $1,500 refund. But that’s exactly what happened when experts from the consumer watchdog discovered Guadalupe was being overcharged by an alternative supplier she had no idea she was paying. In late…...

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CUB Q&A: Why is Ameren’s electricity price spiking?  

A spike in an electricity “capacity auction” means that Ameren Illinois’ supply price for power increased significantly on June 1. The price went down slightly on Oct. 1, but it is still elevated. From October 2026 through May 2027, Ameren’s price is 10.441 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for the first…...

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CUB Q&A: Why is ComEd’s electricity price spiking? 

Record-high prices in an electricity “capacity auction”–sparked by soaring data center energy demand–have caused Commonwealth Edison’s electricity price to remain elevated for a second straight summer.  ComEd estimates this could cost customers about 12 percent more, on average, from June 2026 through May 2027, but hotter weather and other factors…...

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CUB thanks Gov. Pritzker for pausing new tax incentives for data centers, outlining framework for data center safeguards in Illinois

The following is a statement from Citizens Utility Board (CUB) Executive Director Sarah Moskowitz on Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s announcement today that he is pausing new data center tax incentives. The governor also outlined a framework for data center safeguards in Illinois. We thank Gov. Pritzker for taking action today by…...

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