By: Scott Allen Phase 2(a) of the Future of Gas proceeding has come to an end. That’s after back-to-back workshops (Feb. 26-27) where participants shared their perspectives on how Illinois ought to pursue gas-system decarbonization. Seventeen parties volunteered to present, and the facilitator broke those into three categories: All options…...
Spring is in the air: Check out our March 2025 events
CUB’s Outreach team travels across the state of Illinois to staff free events to give consumers energy efficiency tips for their home, educate them on how clean energy can cut their utility bills and help people protect themselves from scams and rip-offs. As we head into spring, people are starting…...
Jumpstart your spring cleaning with energy efficiency tips from CUB
It’s time to get your home ready for warmer weather. Remember, energy efficiency is just as important during hot weather as it is in cold, so consider adding these home maintenance tasks to your spring cleaning checklist: Air conditioning maintenance. A properly maintained AC system can help you save hundreds…...
CUB applauds ICC for pumping brakes on controversial Peoples Gas Pipe-Replacement Program
Concluding a year-long investigation into concerns that Peoples Gas’ controversial pipe-replacement program was ushering Chicagoans to the brink of a financial abyss, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) Thursday significantly restricted the amount the utility sought to spend to complete the initiative. In a ruling on the future of Peoples’ System Modernization…...
Act now for our power bills, our power grid – Support the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability (CRGA) Act
We need your help to push for new legislation–the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability (CRGA) Act–which would implement a number of reforms that are good for clean, affordable and reliable electricity. As you know, ComEd customers are set to pay higher supply prices on June 1, due to poor policy…...
My guided tour of ComEd’s Community Solar billing mess
By Marina Minic Solar Programs Coordinator Nearly a year after ComEd’s switch to a new billing system sparked frustrating billing problems for many customers, people are still reporting problems, including participants in Illinois’ groundbreaking Community Solar program–like me! I’ll explain my own experience with ComEd’s current billing mess to show…...
News Release: Breakthrough Agreement with Ameren will Accelerate Clean Energy, Cut Costs with Smarter Grid Planning
Today the Citizens Utility Board (CUB), Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), and Environmental Law & Policy Center (ELPC) have announced they reached a settlement with Ameren to integrate grid-enhancing technologies (GETs) into transmission planning in its service territory in Illinois, helping maximize customer benefits of Ameren’s transmission investments. (CUB Note: This…...
Illinois Future of Gas: Geothermal Energy Meeting – December 16, 2024
By: Scott Allen, Energy Policy Specialist The final Future of Gas workshop of 2024 was possibly the most optimistic one to date. The theme of this workshop was geothermal energy and thermal energy networks (or, TENs) Geothermal energy and energy networks are both interesting and practical, and, as we heard…...
Casework Roundup: Enough! Gas utility pushes for record rate hike
The ink was barely dry on rate hikes granted electric and water utilities in 2024 when Nicor Gas and Ameren Illinois proposed new gas increases for 2025—including one that would be the largest gas increase in Illinois history. Also, Peoples Gas has filed papers with state regulators indicating it might…...
