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Consumers for a Better Grid’s 2025 Year In Review

It’s time for another annual reflection from CUB’s Consumers for a Better Grid Campaign. With millions of customers dealing with electricity price spikes, 2025 was a busy year advocating for consumers at PJM Interconnection and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). As part of that mission, the campaign held four…...

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CUB Q&A: The Low-Income Discount (LID) Program for ComEd customers

Following the introduction of low-income discount programs for Illinois’ major gas utilities and private water companies, Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) will be rolling out its own discount program in January of 2026. This program is required under the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) and will provide monthly electric-bill discounts for…...

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Heading into 2026, CUB names biggest threats to utility bills

Based on its experience combatting high utility costs over the past year, the consumer watchdog Citizens Utility Board (CUB) of Illinois has issued its list of what looks to be major threats to utility affordability in 2026. “As consumers struggle with high prices across the board for everyday necessities like…...

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Tough times for northern Illinois gas customers: supply prices up 15-56%, Nicor hits customers with rate hike, Peoples Gas plans one in 2026

A new analysis by consumer advocates Thursday shows that December supply prices charged by northern Illinois gas utilities are about 15 percent to 56 percent higher than they were at the same time last year –  a surge that highlights misleading claims by at least one utility that low fuel…...

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CUB: ComEd taking advantage of ongoing billing problems to push for millions in higher delivery rates

Nearly two years after Commonwealth Edison botched its launch of a new billing system, the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) said it hopes to block Illinois’ biggest electric utility from making customers, and not shareholders, cover nearly $50 million in spending to fix the ongoing problems. (Read the full version of…...

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Update for ComEd customers: Bigger CEJA credit on the way

As we’ve reported before, in a year of spiking electricity prices, Commonwealth Edison bills have included a per kilowatt-hour (kWh) credit made possible by the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA). This credit has given ComEd customers some relief in a tough year, and it will get even higher for…...

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CUB Challenges Ameren’s $59.6 Million Electric Rate-Hike Request

A year after receiving a significant electric rate hike, Ameren Illinois is back before state regulators hoping to increase its delivery rates by an extra $59.6 million, the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) said Monday. The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) last year approved a $308.6 million Ameren electric rate increase, phased in…...

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CUB’s report on gas market volatility: December

Gas prices for eight of Illinois’ 9 major utilities are higher, compared with a year ago, led by Liberty Utilities, which is charging a supply price that is about 63 percent higher; Nicor Gas and Mt. Carmel, both charging a price about 56 percent higher; Peoples Gas, which has a…...

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CUB’s money-saving events in December

The Citizens Utility Board’s Outreach team travels across the state to staff free events giving consumers energy efficiency tips for their home, educating them on how clean energy can cut their utility bills and helping people protect themselves from scams and rip-offs.  Now in the winter heating season, CUB can…...

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