By David Kolata, CUB Executive Director (Update: Since this column was written, the House Energy and Environment Committee voted to advance the Clean Energy Jobs Act, sponsored by State Rep. Ann Williams and State Sen. Cristina Castro [House Bill 3624/Senate Bill 2132]. The bill awaits a committee vote in the…...
With ComEd’s Hourly Pricing, a program that charges the hourly market rate for electricity instead of the standard fixed rate, you could see average savings of 15 percent on the supply portion of your electric bill by shifting your energy-usage to hours when power prices drop (like nights and weekends).…...
Phantom load–sometimes called “vampire power”–refers to home appliances still using energy even after you turn them off. So what impact does that have on your electric bill? About 10 percent of your energy costs come from wasted power. The National Resources Defense Council found phantom loads account for $19 billion…...
Here’s why we need your help fighting Peoples Gas: Check out the latest numbers on your gas utility’s spending spree. Crain’s Chicago Business reports that capital spending at Peoples (and its smaller sister company) is “set to explode” to $3 billion over the next five years. In one year, Peoples Gas…...
Illinois man remembered as kind-hearted seeker of knowledge As the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) celebrates its 35th anniversary, we are honored to receive a generous gift from the Chris Conrad Memorial Light-the-Way Fund. The $20,000 gift honors Chris Conrad’s lifelong passion for shining a light on inequity and injustice. We…...
You pay your water bill, so you should have a say in whether your water system gets privatized. That’s the idea behind House Bill 2392, legislation in Springfield that would require municipalities to hold a referendum before selling off a public water and sewer system. Tell your state legislators to support…...
