During high-priced times, consumers wonder if they should switch to a gas or electric alternative supplier. Be careful. “Alternative electricity suppliers are impacted by the same market conditions that are causing utility prices to increase, so be careful about getting lured into bad deals,” said CUB General Counsel Julie Soderna…...
Beat the Heat with Summer Safety Tips
The best energy efficiency is energy efficiency practiced safely. Temperature Safety: Don’t keep your home too hot or too cold to save money– never set the thermostat at a temperature that threatens your health. Efficiency is all about safety and comfort. Set your thermostat from 76 to 78 degrees for…...
Grow Solar Chicagoland 2022: Join our Virtual Solar Power Hour with MREA
We’re holding a special, interactive Facebook Live event with Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) to inform Chicagoland consumers about an innovative program that has helped participants use solar power to collectively cut their electric bills by tens of thousands of dollars. This joint online event will answer consumer questions about…...
Preparing for an Expensive Summer: Your Energy Efficiency Shopping List
In 2021, homes across the country used about 235 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity to cool their homes–that’s about 16 percent of total residential energy consumption. So as we prepare for an expensive summer, it pays to improve your home’s efficiency. CUB put together a home-improvement shopping list for better energy…...
CUB Alert: Apply Now for LIHEAP Utility Bill Assistance Before May 31 Deadline
With an expensive summer ahead, we urge consumers to apply now for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding before the May 31 deadline. Households at or below 200% of the federal poverty level are eligible for LIHEAP funding. To help consumers prepare to apply, we are holding two…...
The UN’s Bold Climate Change Solution
A United Nations panel has released its third and final report on climate change, and following the dire warnings in the first two installments, this one strikes a hopeful tone with scientists’ plans for the world’s path forward. The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released the last…...