Your CUB Voice

Welcome to the online edition of The Fall CUB Voice! In order to devote the most resources to our free consumer services–including challenging a record number of rate hikes over the past 12 months, and holding events to help people cut their utility bills–CUB is printing and mailing a condensed CUB Voice. But this digital version has full coverage of how your CUB team is fighting for lower utility bills, clean energy and consumer protections. My special request: CUB receives no state funding—we rely on support from good people like you. As we celebrate our 40th anniversary, please help us continue to provide critical services by contributing to our $750,000 goal. Thank you!

Sarah Moskowitz
CUB Executive Director

Addressing a packed public forum about a proposed rate hike that could average up to $27-$29 per month, a utility executive downplayed the increase by saying it “will be less than a dollar-a-day….” CUB Executive Director Sarah Moskowitz sparked applause at the forum when she said: “A ‘dollar a day’ doesn’t make it sound any better. You should stop using that talking point. I’ve worked as a consumer advocate for over 24 years, and that level of increase is unprecedented.” Read our roundup of key CUB cases before the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC).

As of October 1, Commonwealth Edison and Ameren Illinois are charging a new “price to compare,” the price customers should compare to alternative supplier offers. Here’s what Illinois consumers need to know about these supply rates.

The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) held five public forums on proposals by the state’s two biggest private water companies to raise bills by up to nearly $30 a month, and the events reinforced something that CUB has known for years: Private water customers are fed up with rapidly escalating water bills.

Commonwealth Edison and Ameren Illinois customers who have chosen alternative electricity suppliers have lost a combined total of about $297 million over the last year and $1.8 billion since 2015, CUB says, citing annual state reports on electricity competition. “Far too many Illinois consumers have suffered skyrocketing power bills because of an alternative electricity supplier. Going with an alternative offer pitched by a sales rep is a gamble you are likely to lose,” CUB Executive Director Sarah Moskowitz said. “There are more reliable ways to reduce electric bills, including energy efficiency.”

A record price spike in a recent electricity “capacity auction” means the supply price for Commonwealth Edison will likely increase significantly in June of 2025. Read CUB’s Q&A.

When Commonwealth Edison’s botched billing system upgrade effectively blocked Illinois’ money-saving Community Solar program for months, CUB demanded that the utility giant abandon a ploy to force frustrated customers to pay nearly $30 million to help fix the fiasco. “This is unacceptable,” CUB Executive Director Sarah Moskowitz said.

A solar benefit called “net metering” is NOT going away in 2025, but it is changing, under state law. Read CUB’s Q&A. 

A coalition of consumer, environmental and environmental justice organizations, including CUB, gathered outside Peoples Gas headquarters over the summer to announce a grassroots campaign to educate and engage thousands of Chicagoans on the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) investigation into the troubled Peoples Gas pipe replacement program. Read all about it. 

Last November, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) reduced Peoples Gas’ proposed rate hike by about $100 million and ordered the utility to pause its financially bloated pipe-replacement program, pending an investigation of its management. But the utility filed a petition for rehearing and attempted to raise gas rates by another $8 million. In May, the ICC rejected all but a small fraction ($1.6 million) of Peoples’ request. “With this decision, the ICC again displayed the kind of regulatory scrutiny needed to protect Illinois consumers from excessive costs,” CUB Executive Director Sarah Moskowitz said.

• NEW program! CUB Q&A: The Low-Income Discount Rate (LIDR) program (Family and friends may benefit from this program. Let them know about it!)
• Tips from CUB: Use caution if a solar sales rep knocks on your door
• How to: Determine the right size of your room air conditioner 
• Protect yourself from utility disconnections
• A step-by-step guide to applying for LIHEAP

• Sarah Moskowitz’s Chicago Tribune Op-Ed: Private water customers in Illinois are crying for help. Will the General Assembly listen?

• Joliet Herald-News: Suburban lawmakers, Citizens Utility Board partner to fight rising water costs

• Chicago Tribune – Consumer watchdog helps solar roof shoppers cut through the confusion (front page)

• WCIA TV, Champaign: ‘All they want is accessible clean water’: Customers express concerns over IL American Water rate hike at final forum

• Sarah Moskowitz’s Crain’s Chicago Business Op-Ed: ComEd, fix this billing mess (and don’t make customers pay for your mistakes)

• Chicago Sun-Times Editorial: Don’t soak water customers with big rate increases

• WTVO TV, Rockford – ComEd energy costs to increase ‘significantly’ next year, according to watchdog group

• ABC 7 Chicago: Customers fight Illinois American, Aqua Illinois rate hike request, say water bills already too high

• Southland Journal: Bipartisan Group of Lawmakers Join CUB to Oppose Water Rate Hikes, Call for Legislative Reforms

• ABC 7 Chicago: Peoples Gas rate hike used to pay for questionable expenses, annual report shows 

• Illinois consumers fight back against private water company rate hikes
• Consumer Advocates Rally outside Peoples Gas Headquarters
• CUB Explainer: What is building decarbonization?
• Recording of CUB’s Sept. 17 Members Only Event: A Discussion with CUB’s Solar Expert

In July, CUB and a bipartisan group of lawmakers held a press conference in Bolingbrook to urge state regulators to reject rate-hikes proposed by Illinois American Water and Aqua Illinois totaling $2.7 billion. Pictured from left to right: CUB Director of Governmental Affairs Bryan McDaniel, state Sen. Rachel Ventura, state Rep. Nabeela Syed, state Rep. Dagmara Avelar and state Sen. Sue Rezin.

CUB’s Clean Energy Outreach and Communications Coordinator–CUB Español Karen Tolentino represents CUB at Harold Washington College’s volunteer fair in September.

CUB Communications Director Jim Chilsen speaks at a rally outside Peoples Gas headquarters calling on the Illinois Commerce Commission to investigate the company’s troubled pipe replacement program.

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Read the last edition of the digital CUB Voice here.