Most natural gas utilities decreased or maintained their price from last month and all lowered their rates from March 2019. This general trend has continued for three consecutive months, but federal officials predict that could come to an end soon. Here’s our monthly review of gas prices: Illinois Gas, a…...
It’s time to take the power back: Pass CEJA NOW!
More than 700 consumer and environmental advocates converged on Springfield this week to push for the Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA), encouraged by Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s pledge to pass legislation that puts “consumers and climate first.” “I’m not going to sign an energy bill written by the utility companies,” the…...
$500 refund! CUB helps save man from “awful nightmare” with alternative supplier
A Genoa resident received a $500 refund after being overcharged for months by an alternative electric and gas supplier, thanks to CUB’s Bilingual Consumer Rights Specialist Annie Warnock. When Gayle filed a complaint with Residents Energy, he was paying 15.53 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for electricity — more than double…...
Federal ruling “direct attack” on Illinois, CUB’s leader testifies
A federal regulatory ruling that threatens to raise electric bills by up to $864 million a year “punishes Illinois for our successful clean energy policies” and is a “direct attack” on the state’s authority to protect its residents, CUB Executive Director David Kolata told a legislative committee today. The recent…...
Sources for CUB’s Guide to Fighting Robocalls
You can order CUB’s Guide to Fighting Robocalls here. Below is a list of the sources the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) researched to write the guide: “Apple.” Detect and block spam phone calls – Apple Support. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207099. AT&T. “Block Robocalls and other Unwanted Calls.” https://www.att.com/help/robocalling.html. Blanco, Octavio. “Robocalls Decline, but…...
CUB study finds big savings for EV drivers with special Ameren pricing plan
A new study by CUB found that electric vehicle drivers in Central and Southern Illinois could potentially save hundreds of dollars a year in charging costs if they participate in an Ameren Illinois program called Power Smart Pricing. “Charge for Less: An Analysis of Electricity Pricing for Electric Vehicles in…...
Memes, graphic novellas, Instagram, oh my! — Northwestern students help CUB rethink its educational tools
Who knew that memes, social media and graphic novellas could be used to break down and simplify utility concepts like capacity markets and legislation like the Clean Energy Jobs Act? Thanks to a partnership with PhD and Masters students in the “Introduction to Design in Learning Sciences” course at Northwestern…...
