We talk to utility customers every day at CUB, so we know people are hurting and worried about paying their utility bills. If you cannot afford your utilities, you may be eligible for financial assistance through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program–or LIHEAP. LIHEAP helps low-income consumers pay their…...
State report shows big losses for electric shoppers: $800 million since 2015
The Illinois Commerce Commission’s Office of Retail Market Development released its annual report on Illinois electric competition. It showed that electric consumers with alternative suppliers lost $246.1 million just over the last 12 months. That makes nearly $800 million lost in the last four years! Since June 2015, total residential…...
HEAT Act would protect consumers from predatory alternative suppliers
Today CUB joined Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and other consumer advocates urging the General Assembly to pass legislation to protect consumers from predatory practices and high costs from alternative energy suppliers “This legislation would right some of the wrongs in the alternative supplier industry,” said Bryan McDaniel, CUB’s Director…...
Working hard for consumers in Springfield
Legislative update by Bryan McDaniel, CUB Director of Governmental Affairs A cold, snowy winter isn’t going to stop CUB from advocating on your behalf at the state Capitol. During the summer months I attend CUB outreach events in order to experience firsthand the best part of working at CUB, helping…...
Last chance: Fight terrible water bill
A few weeks ago we told you that a terrible bill—an update to the Water Privatization Act—had to be passed again by the Illinois General Assembly because of a legal technicality. Here’s why the bill is terrible: It allows Illinois’ biggest private water monopolies (Illinois American and Aqua) to march…...
6 reasons AT&T’s legislation should make you MAD
1) Utilities get an exemption: The legislation contains a four- to five-year exemption for key customers, such as utilities. It proves copper landlines still play a key role—and it also begs the question: If it’s so important to protect landline service for those customers, then why not for the millions…...
New milestone: $2.5 billion in consumer savings
CUB joined ComEd and Elevate Energy at the Shedd Aquarium today to celebrate an important milestone: $2.5 billion in consumer savings because of energy efficiency. But this milestone is just one step on the path to even bigger savings to come for Illinois customers. The Future Energy Jobs Act—historic energy…...
State Capitol update: Protect state funds keeping bills low
STATE CAPITOL UPDATE: CUB needs your help to defeat a Springfield maneuver that’s bad news for our utility bills. Here’s the problem: Special state funds to help make our utility bills more affordable are in danger of being “swept.” That means some people in Springfield want to drain those funds and…...
Take action for Efficiency!
Watching daily developments in Washington, it’s easy to get discouraged. But as a nonpartisan group that works to lower utility bills, we want to alert you about good legislation on Capitol Hill—and give you a chance to take action. Just last week, the Energy and Natural Resources Committee recommended that…...
