The General Assembly met in Springfield this week for the first time in 11 weeks, and the COVID-19 pandemic was understandably at the top of the legislature’s agenda. As talk turns to Illinois finding a way to pull out of this crisis, it’s vitally important that we remind our leaders…...
Federal legislation gives Illinois $41 million boost in energy assistance
Illinois has received more than $41 million in extra assistance to help low-income consumers pay their electric and gas bills during the pandemic, thanks to the federal stimulus package that passed earlier this spring. The $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is a wide-ranging package designed…...
Chicago resolution calls out excessive spending by Peoples Gas
The Chicago City Council has passed a resolution urging Illinois leaders to protect the City’s residents from rapidly increasing heating bills caused by a “troubled” Peoples Gas pipeline-replacement program. The resolution, passed on Friday, calls on Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois General Assembly “to restore necessary oversight of this…...
Chicago becomes national leader with EV ordinance that’s good for pocketbook, planet
Chicago has joined a small circle of U.S. cities pioneering policies to prepare for the projected growth in electric vehicles (EVs). On Friday, the City Council passed an ordinance that opens the door to cost-effective expansion of charging equipment in residential and commercial buildings. It’s called the Electric Vehicle Supply…...
ICC OKs new ComEd pilot program, giving electric customers more money-saving choices
Customers of Illinois’ largest electric utility are one step closer to enjoying another program to help them save money and lower their reliance on dirty sources of power: “Time-of-use” (TOU) pricing. Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) have been pressing for this innovative program for more…...
CUB’s weekly e-newsletter: What’s up with your gas utility?
In this week’s e-newsletter, CUB’s policy and legal teams update you on how Illinois’ major gas utilities are trying to make you pay more. Read the summaries below and sign CUB’s petition against the utilities’ profit grabs. Ameren Illinois filed a $102 million natural gas rate hike with the Illinois Commerce…...
Overpaying by $4.4 billion? New report shows why we need electricity market reforms
We’re paying $4.4 billion more for electricity than we need to be. According to a new report, consumers all over the U.S.—including northern Illinois—are overpaying for a “capacity” charge that’s hidden on most electric bills. This is a major reason why CUB is fighting for the electricity-market reform provisions in…...
Statement by CUB Executive Director David Kolata on ICC Consumer Protection Measures Amid COVID-19 Crisis
We thank state regulators for their pro-consumer actions today. These are uncertain times, and the last thing consumers need is to have their utility service interrupted, or to have their health threatened by alternative supplier sales representatives knocking on their doors. As this public health crisis unfolds, we need to…...
4 Coronavirus headlines you might have missed: Shut-offs, Wi-Fi, scams, dirty cellphones
As Coronavirus continues to spread, headlines have been saturated with news about the disease, also known as COVID-19. CUB picked a few news stories from the bunch that are helpful for consumers’ pocketbooks and health. Leaders call on utilities to half shut-offs during public health crisis. Gov. J.B. Pritzker and…...
