CUB in the News | Citizens Utility Board

CUB in the News

6/9/25 – Public Forum to Allow Frustrated Nicor Gas Customers, Consumer Advocates to Protest Utility’s Attempt to Impose Record Rate Hike
6/4/25 – Amid 45% Increase in ComEd’s Power Price, CUB Calls on Utility to Work With Customers to Keep Them Safe, Cool, Connected This Summer
6/4/25 – Amid 50% Increase in Ameren’s Power Price, CUB Calls on Utility to Work With Customers to Keep Them Safe, Cool, Connected This Summer
5/22/25 – CUB Warns Ameren Customers of June 1 Electricity Price Spike
5/19/25 – CUB Warns of June 1 Price Spike on ComEd Bills
5/14/25 – As Ameren Rolls in Profits and Pushes for Higher Rates, Consumer Groups Call for Cutting Ameren’s Gas Rate-Hike Request by Two-thirds
5/7/25 – Consumer Advocates Urge Regulators To Cut Nicor’s Record Rate Hike By More Than Half; Decry Excessive Profits, Wasteful Executive Bonuses
4/3/25 – CUB: 104% increase in Peoples Gas price in April exposes how utility misled customers on record rate hike
2/20/25 – CUB applauds ICC for pumping brakes on controversial Peoples Gas Pipe-Replacement Program
2/12/25 – CUB Statement on ComEd Related Corruption Trial
1/28/25 – CUB Statement on Ameren’s Proposed $134 Million Gas Rate Hike
1/22/25 – Consumer and Grassroots Groups Launch Major TV Ad Campaign Urging Public to Oppose Record-Breaking Peoples Gas Rate Hikes
1/13/25 – Groups deliver more than 5,000 public comments calling for reform of Peoples Gas pipe replacement program
1/7/25 – CUB Statement on Nicor Gas’ Proposed $308+ Million Rate Hike
12/19/24 – CUB Statement on ComEd’s Amended Grid Plan, Rate Hike
12/19/24 – CUB Statement on Ameren Illinois’ Amended Grid Plan, Rate Hike
12/10/24 – CUB Statement on Consumer Victory: FERC Rejects PJM’s Anti-Consumer Transmission Proposal
12/05/24 – Statement from CUB, AARP Illinois: Illinois Commerce Commission OKs $110 Million Illinois American Water Rate Hike
11/27/24 – Regulatory judges’ proposed order would give Peoples Gas ‘license to inflict staggering rate hikes’
11/21/24 – ICC Grants Aqua Illinois $11.6 Million Rate-Hike
11/19/24 – CUB urges ICC to cut ComEd rate hike
11/6/24 –State regulatory judge recommends IL American Water receive $109.8 million rate hike, CUB urges ICC to cut it further
10/29/24 – Peoples Gas Customers Face Onslaught of Record-Breaking Rate Hikes Under Disputed Pipe-Replacement Program, Report Finds (Read the report)
10/22/24 – CUB Urges ICC to Cut Ameren Rate-Hike Request
10/9/24 – ICC Judges Recommend 43% Cut to Aqua IL’s Proposed Rate Hike, CUB Says Aqua Increase Would Still Be Too High
8/27/24 – CUB: ComEd, Ameren Customers Have Lost Total of $1.8B to Alternative Power Suppliers Since 2015, According to Review of State Reports on Electric Market
7/31/24 – Statement on Capacity Market Price Spike That Will Impact June 2025 ComEd Bills
7/29/24 – Unjust, Unreasonable: AARP Illinois, CUB Join Frustrated Customers in Speaking Out Against Aqua Illinois’ $19M Rate-hike Request at Public Forum
7/24/24 – Statement on PJM Committee Vote: A Strong Step Toward Clean, Affordable Energy Future
7/22/24 – Consumer Advocates Attend Bolingbrook Public Forum to Speak Out Against Illinois American Water’s $152 Million Rate-hike Request
7/18/24 – Groups launch city-wide campaign to engage Chicagoans on Peoples Gas pipe replacement investigation
7/11/24 – CUB, Chicagoland counties partner to offer “Solar Switch” program to secure rooftop solar discounts, lower power bills for participants
7/10/24 – Bipartisan group of lawmakers join with CUB to oppose water rate hikes, call for legislative reforms
6/24/24 – CUB: ComEd Pushes For Customers To Pay Millions To Fix Botched Billing ‘Upgrade’ That Has Crippled IL’s Acclaimed Community Solar Program
6/4/24 – CUB Alerts Illinois Consumers to New Summer Power Prices
5/30/24 – CUB Applauds ICC for Holding The Line on Peoples Gas, As Regulators Thwart Utility’s Renewed Bid for Inflated Spending on Pipe Replacement
5/23/24 – CUB Testimony Uncovers $50 Million in Overcharges in Illinois American Water’s Proposed Rate Hike

5/6/24 – Consumer Advocates Urge State Regulators To Hold The Line On Gas Utilities, Following Report Showing Heating Bills Could Reach Catastrophic New Highs

5/2/24 – CUB, University Park Call for Cutting Aqua Rate-hike Request by 40%

4/3/24 – ICJC News Release: Experts say CABO will make new Chicago homes healthier, reduce energy bills, and create jobs. Peoples Gas President called out for prior false testimony

2/22/24 – CUB Statement on Nationwide AT&T Outage

2/15/24 – AARP IL, CUB Call for Legislation to Prohibit Utilities From Charging Customers Millions for Self-Serving PR Campaigns, Rate-Hike Legal Fees

2/14/24 – Clean Energy Advocates Join Healthcare Professionals to Discuss Health Benefits of Electrification for Southern Illinois Families

2/9/24 – CUB Statement on Illinois American’s $152 Million Rate-Hike Request

1/25/24 – CUB Statement on Aqua Illinois’ Proposed $19.2 Million Rate Hike

1/23/24 – Mayor Johnson, Ald. Hadden, Business Leaders, and Environmental Justice Advocates Announce Introduction of Clean and Affordable Buildings Ordinance (CABO)

12/15/23 – CUB statement reacting to Peoples Gas’ announcement of another likely rate hike: In the midst of a woeful heating bill crisis for consumers, utility is “unrepentant,” must be opposed

12/14/23 – CUB applauds ICC for standing up for ComEd, Ameren customers, holding utilities accountable in unprecedented regulatory rulings

12/14/23 – CUB applauds regulators for rejecting Peoples Gas “theatrics,” as ICC opposes latest bid to additional rate hike

12/1/23 – CUB Slams Irresponsible Peoples Gas Motion

11/30/23 – CUB, MREA, Chicagoland Counties Launch Fall Solar Switch Program

11/17/23 – ICC Rulings Reduce Record Rate-Hike Proposals; Halt Controversial Pipe-Replacement Program, as Regulators Draw Line on Utility Excess

11/6/23 – Advocates Urge Chicago City Council Members to Oppose Record Peoples Gas Rate-hike Proposal as Decision by State Regulators Looms

11/1/23 – Event to Discuss Tri-Cities’ “Coal Problem” and How Residents Can Work To Secure Cleaner, Cheaper and More Reliable Electricity

10/19/23 – Day Of Action: Consumer Advocates Urge Officials To Say No To Peoples Gas’ $402m Rate Hike, Yes To Clean & Affordable Buildings Ordinance

10/17/23 – Consumer advocates urge legislators to uphold veto of Ameren Illinois’ ‘Right of First Refusal’ legislation

10/12/23 – As ComEd and Ameren charge new winter rates, CUB issues statewide warning on alternative supplier rip-offs

10/11/23 – CUB Calls on ICC to Reject Record Rate Hike for Peoples Gas After Agency Official Recommends Big Increase for Utility (CUB’s Memo on the Proposed Order)

9/13/23 – Consumer, Clean Energy Advocates Join Carbondale Leaders to Discuss How Southern Illinoisans Can Transition to Cheaper, Cleaner Ways to Heat Homes

8/16/23 – CUB Thanks Gov. Pritzker for Protecting Customers, Vetoing Expensive Ameren ‘Right of First Refusal’ Provision

7/20/23 – Consumer Advocates to Illinois Utilities: Pause Shut-offs in Storm-ravaged Areas

7/14/23 – CUB Alert: ICC to Hold Public Forum on Ameren’s Proposed $481 Million Electric Rate Hike

6/20/23 – Longtime Consumer Advocate Sarah Moskowitz Succeeds David Kolata as CUB Executive Director

6/5/23 – CUB, MREA, Chicagoland Counties Partner to Launch Solar Switch Program

6/2/23 – CUB shares new Summer Power Prices for Illinois Electric Utilities

6/1/23 – CUB Working to Cut Peoples Gas Hike by $100+ Million

5/23/23 – CUB Testimony Recommends $914 Million Reduction in ComEd Rate-hike Request

5/17/23 – As Peoples Gas Rolls in Profits and Pushes for Record Rate Hike, Disturbing New Filings Shine Light on Mismanagement, Stonewalling in Troubled Pipeline Program

5/15/23 – CUB Testimony Recommends $492 Million Reduction in Ameren Electric Hike

5/12/23 – Fossil Fuel Generators Can’t Perform–So They Just Voted For a Bailout

3/30/23 – CUB Works with GAOI, MREA to Launch Its First-ever Geothermal Group-Buy Program

2/1/23 – CUB Alert: ‘An Unprecedented Rate-Hike Barrage’

1/31/23 – CUB Statement on Ameren Illinois’ Proposed Gas and Electric Rate Hikes

1/19/23 – Fossil Fuels Increased Electricity Costs in U.S. Even Before War in Ukraine, New Analysis Suggests

1/17/23 – Statement from CUB Executive Director David Kolata on Record ComEd Rate-Hike Request

1/6/23 – Statement from CUB Executive Director David Kolata on Peoples Gas $402 Million Rate-Hike Request

1/4/23 – Statement from CUB Executive Director David Kolata on Another Record Nicor Gas Rate-Hike Request

12/15/22 – Grow Solar Chicagoland Group Buy Program Ends, 76 Properties Going Solar

11/10/22 – CONSUMER ALERT: CUB Releases Winter-Saving Tips

10/3/22 – CONSUMER ALERT: Ameren IL’s New Power Price Up 126% From Last Year

10/3/22 – CONSUMER ALERT: New ComEd Price Up 26% From Last Year, CEJA Credit Offering Relief To Customers

9/29/22 – CUB: ICC Rulings Usher in New Era For Illinois Utility Customers

9/29/22 – Sept. 30 Deadline for Grow Solar Chicagoland Program that Promotes Affordable Solar

9/20/22 – News Release from Illinois Attorney General’s Office: Attorney General Raoul Urges Commerce Commission to Order ComEd Pay Customers Larger Refunds

8/17/22 – CUB Statement on Refund Connected to ComEd Scandal

8/2/22 – Advocates Fight $100 Million Illinois American Water Increase

7/28/22 – CUB Urges Consumers to Contact Their Utilities as Some Protections Expire July 31

7/28/22 – CUB Holds Summer Virtual Event Series

7/11/22 – CUB Statement on Another CEJA Victory: $480 Million in Tax-Related Refunds | Comunicado de CUB sobre otra victoria de CEJA: $480 millones en reembolsos relacionados con impuestos

7/6/22 – CUB Marks Launch of Illinois’ Historic EV Rebate with First-ever EV Buyer’s Handbook

6/30/22 – CUB Releases Tips on Preparing Your Home for Power Outages | CUB Advierte A Los Clientes De Servicios Públicos: Siempre Debemos Estar Preparados Para Un Apagón Eléctrico

6/22/22 – CUB Releases Free Guide to Fighting Robocalls

6/14/22 – CUB Urges Chicago Residents to Stay Safe, Cool During Dangerous Heat

6/2/22 – WGN News: CUB has program to make going solar easier

6/1/22 – CUB: Ameren Illinois’ Summer Power Price Increases By 120% on June 1

6/1/22 – CUB Alerts Consumers to Increase in ComEd Price, CEJA Credit Will Give Break To Customers

5/19/22 – Grow Solar Chicagoland Launches 2022 Group Buy: Partnership to Help Consumers Buy Discounted Solar Panels

4/20/22 – CUB Statement on $83 Million Ameren Rate-Hike Request

4/15/22 – CUB Statement on $199 Million ComEd Rate-Hike Request

4/12/22 – Consumer Victory: Advocates Praise Passage of HB 4281 in Illinois

4/6/22 – In Another Month of High Gas Prices, CUB Alerts Consumers to New Protections

4/4/22 – CUB Releases New Guide to Help Consumers Reduce TV Costs

3/2/22 – Marking A Year of Skyrocketing Gas Prices: CUB Alerts Consumers to Gas Bill Myths

2/15/22 – CUB Report: Comprehensive State-By-State Rankings on Utility Performance Cast Doubt on Claims that Fossil Fuels Lower Power Bills

1/31/22 – As Illinois Consumers Suffer Through a Cold, Expensive Winter, Coalition Urges Springfield to End Abusive Surcharge on Heating Bills

1/7/22 – CUB Alerts Consumers to Online Help Center, as High Heating Prices, Aggressive Utility Spending Send Gas Bills Skyrocketing

12/15/21 – Statement from CUB on Ameren’s $57.6 Million Electric Rate Hike

12/01/21 – Statement from CUB On ComEd’s $45.8 Million Rate Hike

9/16/21 – Statement by CUB Executive Director David Kolata on North Shore Gas Rate Increase

3/03/20 – Coalition Urges General Assembly to Reign in Reckless Gas Utility Spending, End Abusive Surcharge on Heating Bills

2/10/20 – New CUB Study: Electric Vehicle Drivers Would Enjoy Big Savings with Ameren’s Power Smart Pricing Program

04/16/18 – Statement by CUB Executive Director David Kolata on ComEd Rate Cut

04/03/18 – In Wake of Historic Consumer Losses in Illinois, Watchdogs Call for Major Market Reforms to Fight Electric/Gas Rip-offs

02/01/18 – CUB Statement on Nicor Gas Rate Hike

11/14/17 – New Smart Meter Data Shows Potential of Real-Time Pricing to Lower Electric Bills

10/10/17 – Statement By CUB Executive Director David Kolata On Clean Power Plan Roll Back

9/12/17 – Statement By CUB Executive Director David Kolata On New Consumer Protections For IL Electric Customers

7/21/17 – New State Report Shows Need For Consumer Protections: Northern IL Residents With Alternative Suppliers Have Lost $340 M Over Last 3 Years

7/01/17 – Statement By CUB Executive Director David Kolata On AT&T Legislation

6/30/17 – Statement By CUB Executive Director David Kolata On Veto Of SB 1839

6/30/17 – CUB Fights for 41% Cut in Nicor Gas Rate

6/15/17 – CUB Alerts Central, Southern Illinois Consumers About Summer Power Prices

6/6/17 – CUB Alerts ComEd Customers About Summer Power Prices

6/5/17 – Statement By CUB Executive Director David Kolata On ICC Passage Of New Consumer Protections For Electric Customers

6/1/17 – CUB Statement on AT&T Deregulation Legislation

5/25/17 – Top Watchdog Urges Illinois House to Fix AT&T Legislation

4/27/17 – CUB Marks Earth Month With First-ever Electric Vehicle Report

4/19/17 – Watchdogs Warn Legislation Could Strip AT&T’s Most Vulnerable Customers of Affordable, Reliable Phone Service

4/14/17 – Statement by CUB Executive Director David Kolata on ComEd Rate Hike

3/24/17 – Illinois Kicks Off Ambitious Utility of the Future Process

3/23/17 – Statement by CUB Executive Director David Kolata On $17 Million ComEd Rate Cut

3/13/17 – CUB Statement on Proposed Nicor Gas Rate Hike

3/1/17 – Statement By CUB Executive Director David Kolata On ICC’s Vote To Continue Investigation Of Peoples Gas Pipe Program

2/24/17 – Peak Time Rewards Program Has March 1 Sign-up Deadline, CUB Endorses Ameren Illinois Program As ‘Good For Our Power Bills’

2/17/17 – New Illinois Data-Sharing Program to Spur Clean Energy Solutions, Cost Savings

2/16/17 – CUB To Northwest Suburbs: Beware Of Bad Electric Deals

2/9/17 – CUB Launches Online Center To Help Chicago-Area Consumers Avoid Rip-Offs From Unregulated Natural Gas Suppliers

2/3/17 – Statement By CUB Executive Director David Kolata: FERC Victory Good News for Central, Southern IL

12/13/16 – CUB Offers First-Ever Guide to Help Pay-TV Customers Save Money, as IL Polls Show Strong Backing for Industry Reforms, Cheaper TV Options

12/6/16 – CUB Statement on ComEd Rate Cases

CUB in the News

01/06/21 – State watchdog sues ComEd in federal court

01/06/21 – Citizens Utility Board files complaint against ComEd over bribery allegations

11/17/20 – ComEd cuts off 1 in 25 households in Black South Side neighborhoods
11/09/20 – Heating bills set to rise next year in northern suburbs

10/16/20 – Power suppliers could soon be knocking on your door again. Here’s why.
06/03/20 – Peoples blows away record with first-quarter profit growth
04/01/20 – Peoples Gas shatters earnings record it set the year before
02/28/20 – Look who wants in on ComEd’s rate-setting mojo
01/30/20 – Facebook agrees to pay $550 million to Illinois users
09/16/19 – Report: Energy Efficiency leads Ill. job growth, outpaces nationwide growth
08/14/2019 – A utility scorned? Nicor erupts over proposed ‘lowball’ rate hike
05/28/2019 – State crackdown on energy suppliers on verge of becoming law
05/21/2019 – Chicagoans paid a 67 percent premium for heat last winter
05/10/2019 – Proposed $1,000 Illinois electric vehicle fee called unfair by EV owners and manufacturers
05/01/2019 – Nicor trims record-setting rate hike request
04/26/2019 – Editorial: Going green in Illinois doesn’t have to hit us hard in the wallet
04/05/2019 – Peoples Gas spending inflates parent’s profit
02/27/2019 – Peoples Gas blows the pipeline-replacement budget again
01/04/2019 – Peoples Gas parent’s Illinois spending plans surpass $3 billion
11/30/18 – 1 in 10 Chicago households threatened with gas cutoffs this year
11/21/18 – Chicago households could pay much more for heat this winter
11/15/18 – Controversial law easing privatization of water hits a snag
11/01/18 – Peoples Gas suddenly is extraordinarily generous with campaign contributions
10/26/18 – Get ready to rumble again over nukes and coal, Illinois
10/19/18 – AT&T ends monthly federal subsidy for low-income landline customers
10/5/18 – Inside the lives of the folks knocking on your door to sell you power
10/3/18 – Fewer Chicagoans are buying above-market gas from suppliers as heating bills rise
09/25/18 – ComEd’s energy price was supposed to rise next month. Now it will fall. Here’s why.
09/14/18 – As heating bills rise, Peoples Gas comes in last in customer-satisfaction ranking
09/06/18 – Want to know how much you’d be paying if you were still with ComEd? AG pushes utility to tell you monthly.
08/29/18 – CUB warns consumers: Beware green power offers
08/22/18 – The dubious sales pitches of retail power suppliers hit home
07/20/18 – How long before Chicagoans pay twice what suburbanites do for winter heat?
07/03/18 – ComEd, power suppliers agree at last: You have the right to know when you’re overpaying for electricity
4/27/18 – This is what the start of a heating-affordability crisis looks like

3/2/18 – What’s Chicago getting for Peoples Gas’ spending spree? Less for more.

9/28/17 – Nicor dispute with railroad endangers winter heat for 250,000.

7/15/17 – Buying power from an indie? You may be paying too much.

5/31/17 – Power sellers fight state marketing clampdown

5/4/17 – Help Squad: CUB one-on-one analysis results in big utility bill savings

3/1/17 – State orders new probe of massive Peoples Gas project

1/28/17 – The state just made it easier for marketers to sell high-priced heat

1/7/17 – Runaway cost of Peoples’ gas main revamp once alarmed the ICC. Now? Maybe not.

12/14/16 – Utility watchdog offers consumers ways to cut pay-TV bill

12/19/16 – Ditching cable in 2017? What you need to know about streaming TV.

12/14/16 – Utility watchdog offers consumers ways to cut pay-TV bill.