Remember how bad it was before the Citizens Utility Board (CUB)? It was the spring of 1983, and Gov. “Big Jim” Thompson was in a packed theater in southern Illinois pitching a tax increase—but people were more interested in what he would do about utility bills. What he said sparked…...
It could be an expensive winter
Midwestern homes that heat with natural gas on average could see a 14.5 percent increase in bills this winter, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). But gas customers in Central and Southern Illinois are seeing their costs go down. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) says consumers will see higher heating bills due…...
[Breaking] Fight bad water bill (again)
A few months ago, Gov. Rauner signed a horrible bill—an update to the Water Privatization Act. The bill allows the state’s biggest private water companies to buy up municipal water systems and raise rates for customers across Illinois. Well, there’s an exciting development: Due to a legal technicality, the General Assembly…...
$125+ million in consumer savings in 2018–$20+ billion total!
CUB’s team helped save Illinois consumers more than $125 million in 2018, adding to the $20 billion in savings since the consumer watchdog opened its doors 35 years ago. “We thank Illinois consumers for their generous support,” CUB Executive Director David Kolata said. “CUB members are the heroes in this…...
Update: Defend net neutrality
Net Neutrality Update: Take action to fight a White House attack on the nation’s strongest internet consumer protections. Background: Things looked pretty bleak last year after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), under new Chairman Ajit Pai, killed the internet consumer protections called “net neutrality.” But enough people care about this issue—polls show an…...
The heating-affordability crisis
By Bryan McDaniel CUB’s Director of Governmental Affairs CUB has been working with other consumer advocates to reform the Peoples Gas pipeline-replacement program–the utility’s mismanaged project that threatens to spark what Crain’s Chicago Business called a “heating-affordability crisis.” Last week I came face-to-face with the heating-affordability crisis. I met with…...
Q&A on AT&T ending the Lifeline discount for landline customers
CUB has been getting calls from AT&T customers concerned about a letter they received from the company announcing the end of a low-income discount on landline service. Read CUB’s Q & A. What happened? In September, certain AT&T landline customers received a letter from the company with the headline: “Your…...
