Part of CUB’s watchdog role is making sure Illinois’ two biggest utilities do the “smart grid” right. That’s why CUB and the Environmental Defense Fund have just made a major proposal before state regulators to make sure $3 billion in historic upgrades to the power grid work for consumers. CUB…...
Update to Chicago Power Deal Calculator
CUB introduced the Chicago Power Deal Calculator in June to help you decide if the City’s deal with Integrys Energy Services was the right choice for you over the summer. Integrys recently announced rates for October 2014 through May 2015, and CUB has updated its calculator to help you determine whether…...
Land of Lincoln leading the nation: An information bill of rights for smart meter customers
Illinois could become the first state to require electric utilities to give customers quick and easy access to their own energy-usage data, under a proposal filed with state regulators by the Environmental Defense Fund and CUB. The is a key time for Illinois electric customers, as ComEd and Ameren launch…...
CUB, ABC 7 shine spotlight on a ‘Major’ problem
Check out Jason Knowles’ ABC 7 investigative piece on Major Energy, an alternative electric supplier with a track record that’s causing CUB concern. Some of the most egregious complaints CUB has received about alternative suppliers have been connected to Major. They’re one of the companies that sparked CUB and the…...
They made how much?
We’re fighting the utilities in nearly $1 billion in rate-hike battles, but a review of their parent companies’ 2nd quarter earnings would have more than a few Illinois consumers scratching their heads as to why the companies need all that extra cash. The parent companies of ComEd, Peoples Gas, North Shore Gas,…...
Appellate court ruling rains on ComEd’s parade
Ever had to suffer through a long, expensive, food-spoiling power outage? Yep, it stinks. Even worse, for years, ComEd has dodged giving compensation to its customers in such outages. Those days may be over, thanks to a recent Illinois Appellate Court decision. Crain’s Chicago Business reported recently that the Appellate Court…...
The 5 most annoying things about Illinois’ power grid (and what a smarter grid could do about it)
Illinois’ power grid—the aging lines and equipment that deliver electricity to our doorstep—has become a costly headache for electric customers. The “smart grid,” which is an umbrella term for grid upgrades, could help change that. CUB has compiled a list of the most annoying consumer headaches that ComEd and Ameren…...
Integrys Deal Changes
The City of Chicago announced that it has renegotiated its electricity deal with Integrys Energy Services after growing concern among consumers that they might be better off returning to ComEd for their electricity supply. The new deal splits Chicago households into 10 different “tiers” with accompanying rates that are intended to save consumers money and…...
Chicago Power Deal Calculator Video
Not sure which energy supplier will save you money this summer? Watch our video to find out about a free tool– the Chicago Power Deal Calculator– that will help you decide if the City’s deal with Integrys is right for you: [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEkpnQ2HGj8?list=UUnBH1A1X_csFhP4sN0hZVlQ&w=560&h=315] ...
