The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) should reject a proposed acquisition involving the parent companies of the state’s two biggest private water utilities–Illinois American Water and Aqua Illinois–because the deal would not serve the public interest, according to expert testimony filed by the Citizens Utility Board (CUB). The parent companies of…...
Sign CUB petition about AT&T-Time Warner merger
This week, CUB is asking Illinois consumers to sign our petition expressing concerns about AT&T’s push to buy Time Warner for $85.4 billion. The blockbuster deal, which will be subject to a Justice Department review, joins media giant Time Warner (owner of HBO, CNN and Warner Bros. Studio) with AT&T, the…...
ICC approves Wisconsin Energy merger
The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) voted 4-1 to approve a $5.7 billion merger between Wisconsin Energy and Integrys Energy Group, Peoples Gas’ parent company. CUB had hoped to see the ICC attach stronger pro-consumer conditions to the merger—especially in light of a Peoples Gas pipeline replacement program that is costing consumers…...
Attorney General: Pump the brakes on Peoples pipeline project
In light of ballooning costs and allegations of mismanagement, Attorney General Madigan is asking Peoples Gas to back down from a pledge to complete its massive pipeline replacement project by 2030. In a brief filed March 27 with the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC), Madigan said that Peoples’ project has fallen seriously behind schedule…...
CUB Survey: To merge or not to merge?
Comcast, the largest cable/Internet provider in the country, recently announced plans to take over Time Warner Cable, the second largest provider, for $45.2 billion–pending approval from the Department of Justice and the Federal Communications Commission. Opponents of the deal maintain that it could seriously compromise competition, net neutrality, and customer…...
