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Folks, we have a winner…

Cue the drum roll: We’re pleased to announce that Donna H. is the lucky winner of CUB’s “Biggest Energy Hog” summer quick poll! The Chicago-resident beat out more than 2,350 other hopefuls to snag CUB’s top prize—$100 off her power bill and two super-efficient light bulbs. Her name was randomly…...

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Winners of CUB’s giveaway take home smart thermostats

Congratulations to Thomas, of Walnut, and Richard, of Mount Prospect, on winning CUB’s smart thermostat giveaway. The two lucky winners beat out more than 2,000 other participants to take home the free, money-saving devices valued at about $250. For Thomas, who is in the process of moving to Putnam, winning the smart thermostat means he can…...

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Get ready for summer with this money-saving checklist

Use this simple checklist to get your home ready for summer: 1) Dust off the grill: Grills keep heat out of the kitchen, meaning air conditioners don’t have to work harder to cool it off. 2) Schedule a check-up: An HVAC technician should check your heating and cooling equipment. Should…...

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Saved from a high phone bill, retiree says: ‘Illinois consumers need CUB’

By Samantha Vercellino Last October, Chicago retiree Cassandra packed her bags and moved across town to the West Side of the city. She welcomed the change in scenery until she found out a new address also meant she had to switch to pricey digital phone service. Before the move, she…...

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A ‘greener’ take on this year’s holiday gift giving

By Samantha Vercellino Gift shopping can be stressful, especially when the holiday is right around the corner. But don’t fret; we’ve put together a list of our five favorite “green” gifts of 2015! Smart Crock-Pot: Unlike most slow cookers, the Smart Crock-Pot is Wi-Fi enabled which allows users to adjust its temperature…...

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Bright future: Good news from the Illinois Commerce Commission

The future for solar looks a little brighter in Illinois after two recent Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) rulings. The Citizens Utility Board (CUB) and Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) applauded the decisions after months of work in favor of the reforms.  “If Illinois wants to have a cheaper, cleaner and more stable…...

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CUB saves consumer from $3,000 error

Henry T. never could have imagined that when he assisted his elderly mother with paying her bill, it would come back to bite him. Unfortunately, that’s what happened.  This summer, the Chicago resident received a bill of $3,000 from ComEd—for an apartment he never lived in! The bill was for…...

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Energy Efficiency: the Road to Savings

With the release of the federal Clean Power Plan (CPP) to reduce carbon emissions 32 percent nationally by 2030, the country is abuzz with energy efficiency talk.  We all know that practicing energy efficiency is an important step to reducing harmful pollution, but did you also know these three facts? 1.) Energy efficiency…...

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CUB across Illinois!

Scott Allen, the environmental outreach coordinator in CUB’s Hillsboro office, travels hundreds of miles a week to deliver advice on utility bills, partner with neighborhood organizations, and promote energy efficiency across the state.   It “gets a little hectic sometimes,” but Scott says he wouldn’t have it any other way. “I…...

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Early morning special includes utility bill help for Rockford group

By Samantha Vercellino Last Tuesday, the Rock Church Wellspring Seniors Group gobbled up eggs and pancakes while learning how to slash their utility bills by CUB experts. The Outreach Team was asked to join the group’s monthly breakfast by John and Mavis Readman of Rockford who have been CUB members…...

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