Guadalupe, a 92-year-old Waukegan resident, had no idea that attending a CUB event would result in her receiving a $1,500 refund. But that’s exactly what happened when experts from the consumer watchdog discovered Guadalupe was being overcharged by an alternative supplier she had no idea she was paying. In late…...
CUB Q&A: Why is Ameren’s electricity price spiking?
A spike in an electricity “capacity auction” means that Ameren Illinois’ summer supply price for power increased significantly on June 1. Ameren’s 11.326 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) summer supply rate is about 39 percent higher than the price in the summer of 2024. Thankfully, Ameren’s price is expected to go…...
CUB Q&A: Why is ComEd’s electricity price spiking?
Record-high prices in an electricity “capacity auction”–sparked by soaring data center energy demand–have caused Commonwealth Edison’s electricity price to remain elevated for a second straight summer. ComEd estimates this could cost customers about 12 percent more, on average, from June 2026 through May 2027, but hotter weather and other factors…...
CUB thanks Gov. Pritzker for pausing new tax incentives for data centers, outlining framework for data center safeguards in Illinois
The following is a statement from Citizens Utility Board (CUB) Executive Director Sarah Moskowitz on Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s announcement today that he is pausing new data center tax incentives. The governor also outlined a framework for data center safeguards in Illinois. We thank Gov. Pritzker for taking action today by…...
CUB warning: Beware of bad alternative supplier deals
CUB reminded Ameren Illinois and Commonwealth Edison customers of the utilities’ new summer power prices, and warned customers about getting lured into bad alternative supplier deals. Even in this high-priced environment, the utilities’ supply prices are likely the best bet, the watchdog said. These are the utilities’ new summer supply…...
CUB expert testimony uncovers $50+ million in overcharges in Illinois American Water’s rate-hike proposal
As it attempts to dominate the state’s private water landscape through an aggressive acquisition strategy, Illinois American Water is pushing a rate hike that would overcharge customers by at least $54 million–including an exorbitant profit rate for shareholders and executive bonuses, according to expert testimony filed by the Citizens Utility…...
CUB’s report on gas utility prices: June 2026
While several gas utilities in Illinois, thankfully, reported lower prices compared with last June, one company, Liberty Utilities, reported a spike of about 33 percent, according to a CUB review of June prices. Illinois utilities file their supply price, called the Purchased Gas Adjustment (PGA), each month with the Illinois…...
Springfield Update: Illinois fails to pass POWER Act–but data center fight “far from over”
Despite hundreds of advocates rallying in Springfield to protect Illinois consumers from high power bills caused by data centers, the Illinois General Assembly adjourned in the wee hours of June 1 without voting on the POWER ACT (Senate Bill 4016/House Bill 5513). [Update: In a major development after the session…...
Op-Ed: Illinois AG’s bill credits a bit of good news–but Peoples Gas fight far from over
By Sarah Moskowitz, CUB Executive Director After years of hearing from so many Chicago families fed up with their escalating heating bills, we were happy that Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul was able to deliver some good news to long-suffering Peoples Gas customers—in the form of bill credits coming their…...
