More than 9 out of 10 community-negotiated power offers in Ameren Illinois territory are currently money-losers, while most of the offers in Commonwealth Edison territory are either about the same as or better than the utility supply price, according to a CUB review of data from the state of Illinois’…...
PJM enlists states in plan to hold Big Tech accountable for data center costs
PJM’s new plan would require data centers to bring their own energy or face power reductions—but relies on states to shield consumers from rising bills. After an uphill battle, CUB is relieved to deliver some promising news: It appears PJM Interconnection, the nation’s largest power grid operator, is finally taking…...
CUB review of state data: ComEd, Ameren residential customers have lost more than $2.3 billion to alternative power suppliers since 2015
Commonwealth Edison and Ameren Illinois residential customers have lost a combined total of more than $206 million over the last year and more than $2.3 billion since 2015 to alternative electricity suppliers, according to the ICC’s Office of Retail Market Development’s annual report. While ComEd and Ameren are in charge…...
In two cases before state regulators, CUB challenges Ameren rate hike, plus $300 million+ in questionable spending in utility’s grid plan
CUB alerted Ameren Illinois electricity customers to two cases before the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) in which the watchdog is challenging a proposed rate hike from the utility as well as more than $300 million in questionable spending in the company’s proposed plan for upgrading the grid. (Read a pdf version…...
Will Illinois meet the moment to rein in data centers and save us from skyrocketing power bills?
By Sarah Moskowitz Executive Director Citizens Utility Board (CUB) (Note: A version of this opinion piece appeared in Crain’s Chicago Business on July 27, 2026.) This summer millions of Illinois consumers are paying power prices that are about 40-50 percent higher than what they were just two years ago, and…...
CUB’s 2026 rate-hike battles: Utilities push for $880 million+ in higher rates
In a year when we’re already paying elevated electricity prices, Illinois’ biggest utilities are piling on by pushing for more than $880 million in new rate hikes before the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). The parent companies of these utilities raked in about $15 billion in total profits in 2025, and…...
CUB uncovers hundreds of millions of dollars in questionable Ameren spending
CUB’s expert testimony has uncovered hundreds of millions of dollars in questionable spending in Ameren Illinois’ proposed four-year plan for improving its power grid. The watchdog warned that the costs of the plan should be reduced substantially to prevent electric bills from being unaffordable. (Sign CUB’s petition urging the ICC…...
CUB testimony uncovers $1 billion+ in questionable ComEd spending
CUB’s expert testimony has uncovered more than $1 billion in questionable spending in Commonwealth Edison’s proposed four-year plan for improving its power grid. (Sign CUB’s petition urging the ICC to hold ComEd accountable.) The consumer group said it was disappointed to see ComEd propose another bloated, expensive grid plan–even after…...
ComEd ($234 million), Ameren ($65 million) push for extra ‘reconciliation’ delivery rate hikes
As millions of Illinois consumers face spiking electricity supply prices this year, Commonwealth Edison and Ameren Illinois are pushing to increase another part of our power bills, delivery charges, by a total of $299 million. The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) has already approved four-year rate plans (through 2027) for both…...
CUB thanks Gov. Pritzker for pausing new tax incentives for data centers, outlining framework for data center safeguards in Illinois
The following is a statement from Citizens Utility Board (CUB) Executive Director Sarah Moskowitz on Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s announcement today that he is pausing new data center tax incentives. The governor also outlined a framework for data center safeguards in Illinois. We thank Gov. Pritzker for taking action today by…...
