Summer weather is upon us. Heating and cooling costs account for 50 percent of a home’s energy bills, according to the Department of Energy. Stay safe, cool and energy efficient. Be safe. Raising your thermostat by a few degrees and using a ceiling fan can lower air conditioning costs over…...
Utility Diaries: A Month of Bills in Urbana, Illinois
In Utility Diaries, we look at what different households across Illinois pay in a month for utility expenses. Today’s household consists of two people in a rented house in Urbana. Housing Background Location: Urbana, IL Household Size: 2 people Housing Type: House Rent or Own: Rent Square Footage: 1,215 Year…...
Ballooning bills, silent customer service: CUB joins ICC probe into three alternative suppliers
The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) is investigating three alternative suppliers–Realgy, Liberty Power and Switch Energy–after receiving hundreds of complaints from consumers about marketing techniques, unresponsive call centers and an unusual Realgy fee that has caused bills to skyrocket overnight. CUB’s legal team is intervening in the cases. These companies are…...
Update: CEJA must pass this session, despite COVID-19
CUB’s consumer advocacy work during the Coronavirus emergency includes fighting rate hikes–and that’s why we’re continuing to push for passage of the Clean Energy Jobs Act during this spring legislative session. It just can’t wait. CEJA not only puts Illinois on a path to 100 percent renewable energy by 2050,…...
URGENT: Help defeat a bad bill
Emergency action alert: We need your help TODAY to defeat a huge bailout for dirty power plants and other power generators. It’s bad legislation—and it could be on a fast track for passage in Springfield. Amendment #4 to Senate Bill 2080 would: Increase electric bills statewide by at least $1 billion and likely more by…...
New ComEd and Ameren rates: January 2019
What happened with your ComEd and Ameren rates as of January 1? CUB breaks it down for you. ComEd Customers Rates for ComEd increased slightly. » Single family homes without electric heat Monthly Customer Charge: $11.31/month (formerly $10.84/month) Distribution Facilities Charge: 3.539¢/kWh (formerly 3.171¢/kWh) » Multifamily homes without electric heat Monthly Customer Charge: $8.13/month (formerly $7.68/month) Distribution Facilities…...
From the CUB files: The case of the “mixed meter,” and a $495 refund
Each year, thousands of Illinoisans call CUB with complaints or inquiries about their utility companies—that includes Charlene. The 75-year-old condo resident didn’t know why her electric bill had skyrocketed. She cares about efficiency—turns off lights, unplugs unused appliances, sets the thermostat no higher than 68 degrees, and avoids energy guzzlers…...
How do I know if I’m with an alternative supplier?
If your electric or natural gas bill skyrockets unexpectedly, you may have inadvertently signed up with an alternative supplier. You should know where to look on your bill to determine if you’re with an alternative supplier. For more information, get CUB’s “Guide to Avoiding Electric Rip-offs” and “Guide to Avoiding…...
