These April statistics, from an ICC database, reflect the number of customers who are 30 days or more behind on their utility bills and the total debt they owe. Click the image to see the database.
In one month alone, major electric, gas and water utilities in Illinois reported that more than 1.3 million of their customers were buried in $493.6 million in debt, according to April numbers the companies were required to file with the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC).
“A lot has changed over the past 40 years, but one thing stays the same: Utility greed,” CUB Executive Director Sarah Moskowitz said. “These numbers show the urgency of fighting reckless utility spending.”
Last year, Ameren Illinois, ComEd, Nicor Gas, North Shore Gas and Peoples Gas slammed their customers with a record $2.9 billion in rate-hike requests. Consumer advocates helped push back $1.6 billion in higher rates. But the utilities still secured rate hikes, and in 2024, CUB’s team is battling about $172 million in additional rate hikes proposed by water utilities.
In addition to staffing a hotline (1-800-669-5556) to take consumer complaints about utility bills (see story below) and holding hundreds of free events to show people how to cut costs, CUB is fighting utilities on several fronts:
- CUB is challenging the Aqua Illinois ($19.2 million) and Illinois American Water ($152.4 million) rate-hike requests.
- The ICC rejected ComEd and Ameren plans to upgrade the power grid—for failing to show how they would be cost-effective. Now, CUB is reviewing the new plans to challenge excessive spending. CUB also is fighting excessive spending by gas utilities, as a new report predicts a possible catastrophe for our future gas bills.
- CUB is pushing reforms in Springfield: The “Water Affordability and Accountability Act,” for example, would help reduce water bills by eliminating the “QIP” surcharge. Also, the “Utility Affordability Act” would stop utilities from charging customers for certain self-serving expenses, including the costs of outside lawyers utilities hire when they push for rate hikes.
What can you do?
- Sign CUB’s petition against the Aqua hike, and file a public comment with the ICC.
- Sign CUB’s petition against the Illinois American hike, and file a public comment with the ICC.
- Sign CUB’s petition against excessive electric-utility spending.
- Sign CUB’s petition against excessive gas-utility spending.
