(800) 669-5556

electric bills

She wondered why her electric bill had skyrocketed

By Ivonne Ortiz, Environmental Outreach Coordinator, CUB  Each year, CUB helps thousands of Illinoisans who have complaints/inquiries about their utility companies. Recently, I took the complaint of a ComEd customer who wondered why her power bills were skyrocketing. She lives alone in a condo and hadn’t made any changes to her…...

Read more

How high are electric bills? Way too high!

Last week, we sent consumers the new electric rates for 2018 (for ComEd and Ameren) and asked them a simple question: Tell us what you think of your electricity bills–are they too high? Here are some of the answers: “Way too high.” -Lewis J. “Seems ComEd gets a charge raising the…...

Read more

CUB statement on ComEd’s $95.6 million rate hike

ComEd on Wednesday received a $95.6 million rate hike. The increase means the average customer will pay roughly 73 cents a month more. We’re disappointed! Read CUB’s statement on the rate hike: “CUB doesn’t believe ComEd needs such a high rate hike. We will study the order and weigh our…...

Read more

A CUB Buyer’s Guide to LED Bulbs

Lighting accounts for approximately 20 percent of a typical electric bill, so using energy efficient bulbs can result in big savings. If enough people switch to LEDs (light-emitting diodes), by 2027 the U.S. could save about $265 billion, according to a Department of Energy estimate. But how do you choose…...

Read more

FAQ on Dynegy’s legislation: Why you should oppose it

In the General Assembly’s October Veto session, Houston-based Dynegy is pushing legislation (Senate Bill 2250/House Bill 4141) to prop up its financially ailing coal-fired power plants. UPDATE: The bill stalled in 2017, but CUB fully expects the legislation to come back in 2018. CUB opposes the legislation. Here’s why you should…...

Read more

Watch your wallet: Electric/gas scammers prey on Illinois consumers

Be on high alert if someone approaches you with a utility “discount” that’s too good to be true: CUB is constantly getting complaints about alternative electric and gas suppliers using predatory sales tactics. Most customers in Illinois can choose a company other than the regulated utility to be their electric…...

Read more

New milestone: $2.5 billion in consumer savings

CUB joined ComEd and Elevate Energy at the Shedd Aquarium today to celebrate an important milestone: $2.5 billion in consumer savings because of energy efficiency. But this milestone is just one step on the path to even bigger savings to come for Illinois customers. The Future Energy Jobs Act—historic energy…...

Read more

Take action for Efficiency!

Watching daily developments in Washington, it’s easy to get discouraged. But as a nonpartisan group that works to lower utility bills, we want to alert you about good legislation on Capitol Hill—and give you a chance to take action. Just last week, the Energy and Natural Resources Committee recommended that…...

Read more

Urgent: Stop bad power deals

Over the last couple of weeks, the CUB Action Network has sent thousands of messages against AT&T’s plan to kill traditional home phone service, as well as plans from Nicor and ComEd to hit customers with a total of $300 million in rate hikes. And today, we ask that you…...

Read more

What is the Future Energy Jobs Act? CUB analyzes Illinois’ biggest energy legislation in years

The Illinois General Assembly has passed the Future Energy Jobs Act, one of the most significant pieces of energy legislation in the past 20 years. CUB members should know about this new law. What is it?  The Future Energy Jobs Act (Senate Bill 2814) is a compromise bill that was…...

Read more