CUBlog

The first step to battling a bad economy may be cutting your phone bill. Go to CUB’s big clinic in downtown Chicago this month.

If you want to read some great comments from some angry ComEd and Ameren customers, check out the public comments section of the Illinois Commerce Commission’s website. There are some heartfelt comments: “Neither the economy of Illinois or its citizens can take much more of Ameren’s greed,” says one customer.

Roselle residents, arm yourselves with money-saving tips at CUB’s phone-bill clinic next week. Read all about it.

ComEd employees were let off the hook after the company concluded its investigation of its decision to deliver a power generator to the home of a top O’Hare Airport offical during a Northwest Side power outage last August. Despite First Deputy Aviation Commissioner David Ochal promptly resigning after his neighbor’s complained about the generator, the Chicago Sun-Times reports that ComEd found that no clout or favoritism played a role in the delivery. With these ethics, it’s easy to see how ComEd justifies its $270 million rate hike.

With energy prices at all-time highs and a slumping economy causing everyone to pinch pennies, Illinois communities are finding ways to become energy producers, not just consumers. The village of Oswego recently passed a law giving any resident with more than 1 acre of land permission to build a windmill. Those who produce more energy than they consume can sell electricity back to ComEd, said Mike Buenger, Plans Examiner for the city of Aurora, a city which has also taken strides to ‘go green.’ Aurora’s Fire Marshal Gary Pozzi installed a solar panel on his home and said it has more than paid for itself. “I don’t know about you, but we are living in exciting times and we can make a difference,” writes the Aurora Beacon News.

Spurred by state and federal incentives, Illinois is seeing an increase in solar power installations. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity reimburses homeowners for as much as 30 percent of the cost of their projects and up to $10,000. The Medill Reports writes about Illinois homeowners who have made their homes energy-efficient by installing thermal and photovoltaic solar systems. With energy prices on the rise, there’s no better time than now to improve your home’s energy efficiency.

Despite pleas from Huntley residents, state regulators unanimously voted to allow ComEd to build transmission lines along a village route, the Daily Herald reports. Those who live along the route say the transmission lines are an eyesore and will cause property values to plummet. “We’re very disappointed. That’s about all we can say about it,” said a Huntley homeowner. “We did everything to prove our case, but it went against us.”

Today, CUB Executive Director David Kolata was on Fox Chicago’s morning show talking about the federal government’s prediction that Midwestern homeowners will pay about 17 percent more to heat their homes this winter. Kolata’s reaction: 1. Never has energy conservation looked so good; and 2. Tell Congress that we need better oversight of the natural gas market.

The Museum of Science and Industry now has an energy-efficient “Smart Home” in its backyard, the Pioneer Press reports. The home is literally programmed to “rise and shine.” An automated system turns on lights, raises shades and cues wake-up music. Bathroom scales measure body composition and transfer readings to a computer to assist with fitness goals. A motorized skylight in the ceiling opens when detectors sense a refreshing breeze. And get this: Digital electronics in the house plants send a voicemail when they need water. The price tag? $450,000 to $500,000, not including the land and technology. I guess I’ll wait until the price comes down a bit.

Jim Chilsen CUB director of communications

The Belleville News-Democrat reports on NICE, or New Illinois Cooperative Energy, a nonprofit cooperative that wants to sell electricity to customers fed up with Ameren. Similar to how natural gas choice works in northern Illinois, customers who agree to sign up would buy their electricity from NICE–but they still would have to pay Ameren to deliver the power to their home. The chairman of NICE’s board of directors, says the choice amounts to remaining with Ameren, a company driven by profit, or choosing “a company whose sole purpose is to supply electric needs at cost”–although he adds: “This is essentially a leap of faith.” CUB calls the NICE program “an encouraging development,” but adds that the “jury is still out as to whether this is going to lead to savings for customers.”