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Illinois has lowest average power bills in Midwest for 10th straight year

For the tenth consecutive year, Illinois had the lowest average electricity bills in the Midwest, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Illinois, which at one point had the highest bills in the Midwest, has now had the lowest since 2012. The EIA, the statistical arm of the Department of…...

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Study reveals October disconnection surge

Special consumer protections and a ninefold expansion in utility bill assistance in 2020 helped keep disconnections low during widespread economic stress caused by the pandemic, with the exception of October. In October 2020, disconnections doubled as utilities lifted their ban on shut offs, according to a new Tufts University study.…...

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New power prices for June 1, 2021 to September 30, 2021

As of June 1, ComEd and Ameren are charging new prices for electricity. It’s important that you know the price for electricity to protect yourself from bad deals being peddled by alternative power suppliers. Illinois consumers have lost more than $1 billion to these suppliers since 2015. Under these market…...

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Take the Earth Day Pledge, You Could Win an Energy Efficiency Kit

Earth Day is Thursday, April 22, but we know the battle for a cleaner, healthier environment can’t be limited to one day a year. The fight for the planet takes place in homes across the world every day.  For some, helping the environment might look like practicing energy efficiency, conserving…...

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CUB’s Holiday Lighting Guide

The pandemic may hang over this holiday season, but there’s still plenty of reason to get in the spirit and decorate your home. Americans spend about $233 million on holiday lights each year, according to Wired magazine, so CUB has tips to help you cut down on your electricity costs. Switch to…...

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Beware High Bills! A Halloween Special

Although Halloween classics like Count Dracula, Freddie Krueger and Michael Meyers cause a fright, few things are scarier than paying high energy bills.  In honor of the spooky season, CUB staffer Cate York created a new video, “Beware High Bills: A Halloween Special.” It’s a fun, quick summary of the…...

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Consumer Alert: Could alt suppliers be knocking on your door again? 

Breaking News Update, Nov. 5:  Victory for Consumers! The Illinois Commerce Commission voted 3-2 today to keep the moratorium in place. Thank you to all the Illinoisans who used CUB’s Action Network to help send 1,000 messages to state regulators in favor of keeping the ban in place. Your activism makes…...

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A CUB How-To: Downloading Your Bills

CUB often encourages consumers to sign up for online billing through their utility. It’s convenient and easy, and there are oftentimes perks or programs that are only available through an online account. But navigating a new online space can be confusing, so CUB staffer Cate put together a few videos…...

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Most reliable way to save money on your bills? Energy efficiency

This Wednesday is Energy Efficiency Day, and as you probably know, CUB is a big believer in efficiency.  Energy efficiency isn’t about sacrifice or a drop in productivity. It’s the practice of using less energy to perform the same tasks you normally do, such as doing the laundry or charging…...

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CUB Analysis: Put low-income communities at heart of state EV policy

With the right electric vehicle (EV) policies, Illinois can deliver cleaner air, low-cost transportation options and lower energy costs for all consumers, particularly in neighborhoods most burdened by pollution, poverty and high power bills, the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) argues in a new analysis released Wednesday.  At a time when…...

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