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CUB warning: Beware of bad alternative supplier deals

CUB reminded Ameren Illinois and Commonwealth Edison customers of the utilities’ new summer power prices, and warned customers about getting lured into bad alternative supplier deals. Even in this high-priced environment, the utilities’ supply prices are likely the best bet, the watchdog said. These are the utilities’ new summer supply…...

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CUB alerts ComEd customers of new summer power price: 10.399¢ per kWh

Commonwealth Edison customers face a second consecutive summer of high bills, largely due to soaring energy demand sparked by new and proposed data centers, the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) said Thursday. CUB urged ComEd to work with customers struggling to afford their bills this summer and called on the Illinois…...

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CUB alerts Ameren customers of new summer power price: 11.326¢ per kWh

Ameren Illinois customers face a second consecutive summer of high bills, the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) said Thursday, spreading the word about the utility’s June 1 electricity price. CUB urged Ameren to work with customers struggling to afford their bills to keep them connected in the hot summer, issued a…...

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‘Utility Customer Refund’? Analyzing an alternative supplier deal

The Citizens Utility Board (CUB) has recently seen an influx of offers from SmartEnergy, an  alternative energy supplier that advertises a $100 “utility customer refund.” At a time when far too many Illinois residents are struggling to afford their utility bills, this could be an attractive offer. But is it…...

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News release: CUB, Chicagoland counties partner to offer “Solar Switch” program to secure rooftop solar discounts, lower power bills for participants

The consumer watchdog Citizens Utility Board (CUB) is working with five Chicagoland counties, renewable energy advocates and solar professionals to offer a program that can help homeowners install solar panels at a significant discount and reduce their electric bills by hundreds of dollars, CUB announced Thursday. The Solar Switch program…...

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Five questions every gas and electric customer should ask when reading their bills

CUB holds hundreds of events across Illinois to analyze consumer utility bills, but we also want to make sure people know to read it themselves if needed. “If you get a high bill, it’s important to ask a few questions,” said CUB Communications Director Jim Chilsen. Here are five questions…...

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Solar group buy program helps 76 properties go solar  ($71,000 in potential first-year savings)

A special program that CUB works on ended 2022 with 76 properties contracted to install solar panels in the coming months–a potential total savings of more than $71,000 for participants in the first year alone. After a year of elevated global energy costs, these Chicago-area residents are moving toward renewable…...

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CEJA set to deliver over $480 million in tax-related refunds

ComEd customers will get $434 million and Ameren Illinois electric customers $50.8 million in refunds over the next three years, under a plan called for by the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) and OK’d by state regulators this summer. The case was tied to an ongoing dispute among the…...

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CUB statement on Ameren’s $57.6 million electric rate hike

Ameren’s Illinois’ $57.6 million formula rate hike just adds to consumers’ pain in an already difficult year. In addition to this electric delivery rate hike, in 2021 consumers have endured significant increases in gas and electricity supply rates as well as a $76 million gas delivery rate hike. Ameren customers…...

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Big step forward: Illinois Senate passes energy bill, now it’s on to the House

After more than two years pushing for comprehensive energy legislation that fights climate change and secures clean, affordable energy for Illinois, we’ve taken a key step forward this month. In the wee hours of the morning Wednesday, Sept. 1, the Illinois Senate passed legislation and sent it to the House.…...

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