As we approach the winter heating season, CUB is here to help you get ready to save on your utility bills. Below are several events in September that can help you improve energy efficiency at home and protect your bottom line. We hope to see you! 10:00 a.m. – 1:00…...
CUB Thanks Gov. Pritzker for Protecting Customers, Vetoing Expensive Ameren ‘Right of First Refusal’ Provision
The Citizens Utility Board (CUB) on Wednesday thanked Gov. J.B. Pritzker for protecting Illinois consumers and issuing an amendatory veto on Ameren’s controversial “Right of First Refusal” legislation that the watchdog said would have needlessly raised costs for electric customers. An amendment to House Bill 3445 would have given Ameren…...
Years of Failure: With record-breaking rate hike pending, Peoples Gas pipe-replacement program once again over-budget, behind schedule
As Peoples Gas pulls in record profits and pushes for an unprecedented rate hike, the Chicago gas utility’s pipe-replacement program failed to hit its goals for the 22nd consecutive quarter, according to a report it submitted to state regulators this week. The program also ended the quarter over-budget, as it’s…...
Should customers fund ComEd’s “marketing charm offensive”?
Crain’s Chicago Business recently wrote how ComEd wants customers to help pay for the utility’s “marketing charm offensive” in the wake of its corruption scandal. In a proceeding before the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC), Attorney General Kwame Raoul is urging state regulators to make ComEd, and not its customers, pay…...
CUB asks Illinois consumers to support the Ethics in Energy Act
It’s bad enough that utilities join industry and trade groups that push bad, anti-consumer policy. But it’s even worse that consumers actually foot the bill for those activities. That’s right, our monthly gas and electric bills help cover the utilities’ membership dues to groups that actively work against our interests. …...
Scam alert! Beware of these 6 scams in 2023
Illinois consumers are no strangers to scams–a review of the latest statistics shows how the Land of Lincoln is a favorite target. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crime Complaint Center reported that in 2022 Illinois ranked fifth in the number of victims (14,786) of Internet-related crime and seventh in…...
August gas prices are relatively low, but it’s always a good time to prepare for winter
Illinois utilities have filed their August gas prices with the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) and they’re fairly consistent with what we saw in July. Seven utilities reported a slight increase from last month, at most roughly a 22% increase in price for Consumers Gas. We’re relieved that the supply rates…...
