Maryland legislators have passed a bill that requires utilities to disclose their votes at PJM Interconnection, the nation’s largest power grid operator. The same legislation has passed the Delaware Senate unanimously and is currently active in three other states–and CUB hopes to pass similar legislation in Illinois. For years CUB…...
Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition research shows a “painful history” of aggressive gas hikes
In a little more than a decade, Illinois’ three major gas utilities have raised delivery rates by close to $1.5 billion, almost doubling what customers pay–and aggressive utility spending threatens to make it even worse for consumers in years to come, according to research by members of the Illinois Clean…...
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…...
CUB’s 2025 State Capitol agenda: Fighting high bills, ridiculous charges, secret votes and supplier overcharges
By Bryan McDaniel CUB’s Director of Governmental Affairs The thing about consumer advocates is that we never give up. That’s why year after year, we’re advocating for strong, pro-consumer policy in the halls of the State Capitol. Here’s a summary of what we’re working on. Senate Bill 75: The Water…...
Chicago Sun-Times: Here’s how the Citizens Utility Board has saved Illinois consumers billions (The group turned 40 this year but not everyone knows about the CUB’s role in representing ratepayers.)
By Stephanie Zimmerman Chicago Sun-Times Utility bills can be confusing, but the nonpartisan Citizens Utility Board of Illinois has helped save consumers an estimated $20 billion in blocked rate hikes and refunds over the past 40 years. Yet not everyone knows about the group’s role in representing ratepayers, says CUB’s…...
Thank you, Illinois consumers: Executive Director’s 2024 End-of-Year Report
By Sarah Moskowitz, Executive Director, Citizens Utility Board Below is my year-in-review for 2024–the Citizens Utility Board’s 40th anniversary. This is a snapshot of how hard the CUB team (pictured at the bottom of this article) is working for you and all Illinois consumers. I’m proud of the great work…...
Illinois Future of Gas: Electrification Meeting Pt. I – November 4, 2024
By: Scott Allen, Energy Policy Specialist Today’s Future of Gas workshop began with an announcement: between now and Dec. 6, 2024, the ICC will be accepting decarbonization pilot project ideas from interested stakeholders. It wasn’t immediately clear how these pilots could be put into effect–or indeed if they ever would…...
CUB to utility exec: Stop downplaying rate hike!
Addressing a packed public forum about a proposed rate hike that could average up to $27-$29 per month, a utility executive downplayed the increase by saying it “will be less than a dollar-a-day….” CUB Executive Director Sarah Moskowitz sparked applause at the forum when she said: “A ‘dollar a day’…...
CUB alerts Illinois consumers to new fall/winter power prices
As of October 1, Commonwealth Edison and Ameren Illinois are charging a new “price to compare,” the price customers should compare to alternative supplier offers, according to PlugInIllinois.gov, the state of Illinois’ electric competition website. ComEd Supply Rate: October 2024 – May 2025 6.47 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) Note: This…...
