There was a time when municipal aggregation–electricity deals that local leaders negotiate for residents of a community–secured savings for consumers, but a new CUB review has found that most deals are no longer beating the utility rate. As of July 31, just 78 of the 555 total active municipal aggregation deals in…...
Gov. Pritzker calls for energy legislation to put gas surcharge on the chopping block
CUB has long called on Springfield to end a special surcharge that allows natural gas utilities to quickly raise customer bills to pay for infrastructure developments. This time, Springfield gave us some good news. In a 13-page document released last week, Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office outlined eight principles that will…...
CUB staffer secures $4,800 refund from alternative supplier
If you’ve ever called CUB, there’s a good chance you’ve spoken to Jantay Gray, the woman who often answers our Consumer Hotline (1-800-669-5556). Jan is one of many outstanding consumer advocates on staff. This year, Sandra Marcelin-Reme, CUB’s director of consumer advocacy, sent the staff an email that exclaimed “WAY…...
Demand response: a win for you, the environment, and the grid
Demand response programs are opportunities for consumers to take an active role in lowering their electric bills, reducing stress on the electric grid, and cutting pollution. Sounds like a good deal. But what are “demand response” programs? At their core, all demand response programs incentivize consumers to shift their electricity…...
Governor revives clean energy discussions with focus on accountability, affordability
Saying the “need for comprehensive energy reform in Illinois has never been greater,” Gov. J. B. Pritzker’s administration reopened discussions on legislation to protect Illinois consumers and move the state to 100% clean energy, giving hope to advocates who have urged passing legislation this year. (Send a message to the…...
Gov. Pritzker restarts discussions on clean energy legislation
Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced on Friday that he plans to restart “working group” discussions with the goal of passing strong clean energy legislation, possibly in the Fall Veto Session. As Crain’s Chicago Business reports, a working group—which includes consumer advocates, renewable power producers, environmental advocates, the utility industry and more—had…...
The clock is ticking: pass CEJA and save our power bills
When the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission voted 2-1 in favor of a proposal pushed by out-of-state power generators, the clock started ticking. The commission’s December 2019 decision overhauls the rules that govern the price we pay for electricity — it would ultimately prop up fossil fuel companies and force consumers…...
Help the environment and cut your costs with ComEd’s Time-of-Day pricing program
With the introduction of smart meters across Illinois, consumers have more options when it comes to how they use and pay for electricity. ComEd’s new Time-of-Day Pricing Program—which charges different electric rates during different periods of the day—is one such option. So how does the Time-of-Day program work? Most customers…...
