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Illinois

Kink in Illinois law leaves renewable energy funds untouched

A fund created to support renewable energy is projected to exceed $140 million by September—but state officials don’t have the authority to touch the bulk of it. We are asking Illinoisans to tell legislators to tweak the law so that wind and solar power can become a bigger part of…...

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Q&A on ComEd and Ameren rate hikes

What happened? On Wednesday, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) voted to give ComEd a $340 million electric rate hike. It also voted to give Ameren a $32 million natural gas increase. How much are rates going up? ComEd said the average household bill will see an increase of about $5.50…...

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5 things you should know about Ameren’s $45 million electric rate cut

Good news just in time for the holidays! The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) has ordered a $45 million rate cut for Ameren electricity customers. Key points about the decrease: When it takes effect: Jan. 1, 2014. What’s behind the change: It’s part of Ameren’s new “formula rate.” Back in 2011, the…...

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A gut punch to cellphone scam artists

We hope this is the beginning of the end for the insidious “cramming” scam. The nation’s big four cellphone companies are voluntarily banning most premium texting services from their bills–charges that have been a major culprit in the scam. The agreement was pushed by 45 state attorneys general, including Illinois’…...

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Energy report: What’s your gas utility charging?

As we approach the heart of the winter heating season, here’s a summary of what Illinois’ major utilities are charging for natural gas right now, compared with last November: Ameren Zone 1 (Formerly AmerenCIPS): 53.482 cents per therm (November 2012: 64.76 cents per therm) Ameren Zone 2 (Formerly AmerenCILCO): 53.673 cents…...

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Raking in profits, gunning for higher rates

Ameren and ComEd both turned in strong third quarter profits, which begs the question: Why do these companies need bloated rate hikes?  CUB today launched an email campaign to  oppose increases pushed by Ameren and ComEd. Ameren is proposing a natural gas rate hike of about $50 million, which the…...

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Good news for Ameren natural gas customers?

Ameren is predicting its customers will see lower natural gas prices this winter—but that doesn’t guarantee they’ll see lower bills. The utility says it expects prices to hover between 53 and 55 cents per therm, down about 5 percent from the prices customers paid last winter. But Ameren cautioned that lower prices don’t guarantee…...

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Aurora mom uses CUB Energy Saver to slash power bills

Like many of the 25,000 CUB Energy Saver users, Yumeaka Jackson turned to the online efficiency tool because of bill shock. “My light bill skyrocketed,” said the Aurora mother of two who works in the insurance industry. But thanks to a CUB Energy Saver contest she entered, Yumeaka saved 3,413 kilowatt-hours…...

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CUB Analysis: Up To $37 Million Per Year In Potential EE Savings

CUB held news conferences across Illinois today to release a report that holds both good news and bad news for Illinois consumers. First the bad news: The Federal Energy Information Administration (EIA) recently released state fact sheets that indicate Illinois is one of the biggest household energy users in the…...

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CUB’s Consumer Advocacy Team: Meet the CUB crew fighting for you!

Each year, CUB’s Consumer Advocacy Department handles nearly 10,000 calls, emails and letters from Illinoisans with questions or complaints about utility service. The team has saved individuals thousands of dollars by identifying errors on electric, gas and phone bills. Consumer Advocacy Director Sandra Marcelin-Reme said a lot of problems stem from…...

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