We talk a lot about how some energy regulators appointed by President Trump have voted to revamp a special electricity market called the “capacity market.” And for months we’ve been warning that this development at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) could slam most Illinois consumers with up to $1.7…...
Energy rip-offs have hit low-income communities hard, but here’s another reason the HEAT Act gives us hope
At CUB, we get reports that customers enrolled with alternative suppliers have been charged double or triple (or worse) for their electricity—and marketers have long preyed on the neighborhoods that can least afford to pay high power bills. That’s yet another reason we’re dedicated to making sure a new reform…...
Rate hike warning for Nicor customers
Nicor’s record-breaking $230M hike In November, just months after receiving a $93.5 million delivery increase, Nicor Gas was back at the ICC, asking for a $230 million rate hike. “This is the largest natural gas rate-hike request CUB has seen in 35 years of fighting for Illinois consumers, and it’s fueled by a massive profit rate…...
Watch out ComEd customers: your next rate hike
CUB’s legal and policy teams are working to defeat two electricity-pricing proposals now before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) that could cause ComEd bills to increase by tens of millions—if not hundreds of millions—of dollars. “This is a hidden hike, because it’s likely very few ComEd customers have heard…...
Ameren customers: Tell the ICC to oppose new rate hikes
CUB is asking Ameren customers to tell the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) to oppose excessive Ameren rate hikes. This year, Ameren announced significant drops in its rates due to a decrease in the corporate tax rate on the delivery side of the bill and a drop in market electricity prices. Good…...
CUB, suburban leaders urge Gov. Rauner to veto HB 4508
Suburban Chicago leaders and the state’s top consumer watchdog group on Monday urged Gov. Bruce Rauner to veto a bill that will give special treatment to Illinois’ most powerful private water companies, making it easier for them to buy municipal water systems and slap their customers with higher rates. At…...
Spring report from CUB General Counsel Julie Soderna
By Julie Soderna, CUB General Counsel Just wanted to give you an update. The CUB staff and I are swamped with these battles in 2018: Fighting plans pushed by giant power generators to change electricity pricing rules in Washington and potentially raise ComEd bills by hundreds of millions of dollars.…...
Some good news for ComEd customers this October
In October, ComEd customers will receive a one-time refund totaling about $80 million. Here’s what you should know: The per-kilowatt-hour credit, labeled the “energy efficiency credit,” works out to nearly $14 for the average ComEd residential customer. The credit is the result of a refund requested by ComEd…...
Join CUB’s Community Action Campaign
This June we’re challenging EVERYONE in Chicago to join CUB’s Community Action Campaign. In the battles below, Julie, CUB’s general counsel, is up against the best lawyers the utilities can buy. She can’t beat them alone, which is why you and your neighbors must join the fight. Remember they only win when…...
