By Samantha Vercellino As the temperature rises, here’s a checklist to help you stay cool—and save money—through another scorching Illinois summer. Make sure your AC is sized properly. Contrary to popular belief, a larger unit will not cool a room better. Unlike an oversized AC unit, a properly-sized one will be more…...
Electricity updates: The good, the bad, and the ugly
The last 24 hours have been a whirlwind of electricity-related developments. We’ve got some good news and bad news for Illinois consumers. First, the good. We’ve been saying for years that efficiency pays— and now we have the proof. A CUB analysis released this morning shows that the Illinois Clean Jobs…...
Is your home (energy) ready for the summer?
By Samantha Vercellino Summer cannot come soon enough. But before warmer weather arrives, follow this simple checklist to get your home ready for the months ahead. 1) Dust off the grill. Haul the dusty grill out of the garage—it’s time to enjoy backyard barbecues. Since grills keep heat out of the…...
Consumer collects $598.13 electric refund with CUB’s help
By Samantha Vercellino Doreen, of Country Club Hills, couldn’t figure out why her power bills were becoming unusually expensive. Not wanting to be left in the dark, she headed to a CUB speaking engagement in Richton Park for answers. At the event, she sat down with Community Service Liaison Aimee…...
Congrats to CUB’s Love to Save Winner!
By Samantha Vercellino Congratulations, Pedro of Mount Prospect who beat out 274 consumers to win $100 off his utility bill AND a $50 Amazon gift card for practicing energy efficiency. Last week, Pedro and other consumers entered our energy efficiency contest. To qualify for the drawing, they had to join…...
Illinois natural gas prices drop (for now)
By Samantha Vercellino The temperature isn’t the only thing that’s dropping. Gas prices have fallen by up to 31 percent this month, compared with December. Here’s a sampling of what major Illinois utilities are charging this month compared with last: Utility Company Jan. 2015 (cents/therm) Dec. 2014 (cents/therm) Percent Ameren 56.308 57.17 -1.51%…...
News that hits us like a big lump of coal: Gas prices up by as much as 30% this December
By Samantha Vercellino As cold grips the Midwest in the opening days of December, we’re forced to welcome natural gas prices that are up to 30 percent higher. Major Illinois utilities are charging consumers 13-30 percent more to heat their homes this December compared to last. Peoples Gas showed the…...
A less expensive winter?
By Samantha Vercellino The weather may be bitter cold now, but experts are predicting milder overall temperatures this winter, bringing Midwesterners out of their temporary hibernation, and hopefully, giving us a break on our bills. How big a break? Chicago utility Peoples Gas, which charged the highest gas rates in the state…...
Chicago Power Deal Calculator Video
Not sure which energy supplier will save you money this summer? Watch our video to find out about a free tool– the Chicago Power Deal Calculator– that will help you decide if the City’s deal with Integrys is right for you: [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEkpnQ2HGj8?list=UUnBH1A1X_csFhP4sN0hZVlQ&w=560&h=315] ...
