With Illinois’ new General Assembly taking up business in Springfield amid a pandemic, CUB’s Bryan McDaniel will be busy fighting for consumers on a number of important bills. Help CUB fight for lower utility bills “Fighting for consumer legislation in Springfield is always a challenge because energy, water, and internet…...
Financial assistance for utility bills available through June 30 to low-income families in Illinois
Low-income families in the state of Illinois can still apply for financial assistance to help pay for gas or electric bills through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) until June 30, 2021. However, the sooner you apply, the better. CUB recommends that to avoid misinformation, the most reliable…...
Meet Joe, CUB’s outreach coordinator
Joseph Giamberdino joined the team as CUB’s outreach coordinator in May 2020. Along with overseeing the planning and execution of events, Joe helps create promotional materials and conducts research for CUB. “Needless to say, beginning a new job during the pandemic was challenging,” Joe said. “But thanks to my colleagues,…...
Five steps to prepare for bad winter weather
Living in a state like Illinois, we are all-too-aware of rapidly changing weather, but are you prepared for bad weather? These five tips can help you plan out your strategy for weathering the storm. 1. Weatherize your home or apartment. Equipping your home with the latest weatherization improvements can help…...
Illinois gas utilities ring in the new year with higher rates
Illinois’ major gas utilities are kicking off 2021 by raising the price per therm for January. This across-the-board increase is on track with predictions made by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) at the beginning of this heating season. The price per therm you’re paying for natural gas in January, also…...
Weatherization assistance, solar tax credits included in COVID stimulus package
Many consumers across the U.S. should soon see $600 payments in their bank accounts, thanks to a $900 billion stimulus package passed by Congress. Although headlines focused on financial assistance, the federal legislation also encourages energy efficiency and extends an important benefit for people who want to go solar. The…...
Mysterious group tries to derail clean energy legislation in Illinois
A mysterious dark money group has reportedly spent more than $250,000 on social media and TV advertising designed to hurt efforts to pass strong clean energy legislation in Illinois, according to research by Capitol Fax and the Clean Jobs Coalition, of which CUB is a member. The shadowy group deceptively calls itself…...