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electric bills

Q&A: Updates to the Carbon-free Resource Adjustment

CUB has been getting calls about a line-item on ComEd bills called the Carbon-Free Resource Adjustment, or CFRA.  Over its first year on ComEd bills, the CFRA delivered a total of about $2.4 billion in credits to consumers.  But this summer the CFRA became a charge. Here’s some background. What…...

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Saving energy and money at home– the renter’s edition

By: Kate Shonk Sustainable Communities Liason The summer cooling season is upon us, and at CUB we’re here to help all Illinoisans save energy and money. For consumers who rent their homes, it can be hard to have control over their building’s efficiency measures–but you still have options. Even if…...

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Teacher says CUB website invaluable in battling alternative supplier ‘scamsters’

Carolyn helps teach English as a second language–but her lessons have gone far beyond grammar. One day a student mentioned to the Champaign-area teacher that her utility bills had gone through the roof. What Carolyn uncovered was a problem all too common for Illinois consumers. A salesman from an alternative…...

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Tips on getting your home ready for hot weather

Summer is just around the corner and it’s time to start planning to get your home ready for warmer weather. Remember: Energy efficiency is just as important during the summer as it is during the winter. Not only does it help prevent power outages by easing stress on the grid,…...

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10 burning questions (and answers) about the 2023 rate-hike barrage

As CUB and other consumer advocates challenge a record $2.9 billion in utility rate-hike requests, here are 10 things you should know about the rate hikes. 1) How much are the utilities asking for?  The rate hikes would impact more than 5 million customers across Illinois. The chart below shows…...

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Video: Protect yourself from utility disconnections

Protect yourself from disconnection with the following tips–and watch and share our new video.   Be proactive. If you’re having difficulty paying your bills, call your utility. Here are the direct hotlines for major Illinois utilities: Ameren Illinois – 1-800-755-5000 Aqua Illinois – 1-877-987-2782 ComEd – 1-800-334-7661 Illinois American Water –…...

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ComEd gets $199 million increase in final formula-rate case

The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) has granted ComEd a $198.9 million rate hike, the third-highest and last increase under the company’s anti-consumer formula rate system that was at the heart of its corruption scandal. “This is a parting shot from a system that was a bad deal for customers from…...

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ICC orders $38 million ComEd scandal refund – a step forward, but not enough

After an investigation sparked by the Climate & Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) has ordered scandal-plagued ComEd to give customers a $38 million refund. But CUB says it’s not enough. “A ($38 million refund) only partially compensates customers for ComEd’s misconduct — people deserve better in…...

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ComEd customers seeing average $18 bill credit thanks to CEJA

Thanks to a provision in the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), ComEd customers have begun to see a credit averaging about $18 a month on their summer bills. The credits are expected to total $1 billion over the next 12 months, and give some relief for consumers who are…...

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CUB Statement on another CEJA victory: $480 million in tax-related refunds

The Citizens Utility Board (CUB) is pleased that the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) has approved a plan made possible by the Climate & Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) to deliver $480 million in tax refunds to Illinois electric customers beginning in 2023. At a time of high energy prices across the…...

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