Environmental advocates will host an online panel of Illinois healthcare professionals to discuss indoor air pollution and children’s health. This topic is of growing interest, as studies link adverse health impacts to burning gas for heating homes and cooking. This free virtual event, which will include a community discussion, is:…...
CUB analysis: Read alternative supplier offers carefully (and watch for red flags)
Have you received an envelope in the mail that at first glance looks like it could be an urgent message from your utility company? Be careful: It could be another alternative supplier offer. Such a mailing can be common in Illinois and other states with competitive electricity choice. But here’s…...
What you need to know about ComEd’s billing change
Note to ComEd customers (3/3/2024): The utility’s switch to a new billing system was rocky, blocking millions of customers from paying their bills online for more than a week and erroneously notifying people they owed $9,999.99. The new billing system was supposed to be working on Feb. 19. On Feb.…...
Joint Release: AARP IL, CUB call for legislation to prohibit utilities from charging customers millions for self-serving PR campaigns, rate-hike legal fees
Illinois utilities would be prohibited from charging customers potentially tens of millions of dollars for self-serving purposes to increase their political power and advance their agenda, including goodwill advertising, political-issue campaigns and bankrolling high-priced legal teams working to win rate hikes against consumers, under legislation supported by the Citizens Utility…...
Springfield Alert: Your action needed to stop “Right of First Refusal” proposals pushed by electric utilities
Remember last year’s big consumer victory, when Gov. J.B. Pritzker vetoed Ameren Illinois’ “Right of First Refusal” proposal? The plan would have needlessly raised costs for electric customers by giving Ameren a monopoly over transmission projects in its territory, and, thus, eliminating a competitive bidding process. It would have been…...
CUB Statement on Illinois American’s $152 Million Rate-hike Request
Citizens Utility Board (CUB) Executive Director Sarah Moskowitz released a statement today about Illinois American Water’s $152 million rate-hike request before the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC): Illinois American’s $152 million rate-hike request is severe and greedy—the company is pushing for an excessive profit rate for its shareholders—and CUB will do…...
Illinois Legislators Join the Push for Greater Grid Transparency with HB4747
Legislators from five states are joining together to introduce legislation to increase the transparency of electric utilities’ involvement in PJM, the Regional Transmission Organization (RTO). PJM manages the power grid over 13 states and the District of Columbia, from the Midwest to the East Coast. The legislators are from Illinois,…...
CUB challenges water rate hikes in 2024: Help us fight them!
Illinois consumers face two new water rate hikes in 2024. Here’s how you can get involved. Aqua Illinois Rate Hike (ICC Docket # 24-0044) Aqua Illinois on Jan. 17 filed for a $19.2 million rate hike before the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). For the average residential wastewater and water bill (4,000 gallons),…...
