Consumers sometimes enroll with alternative suppliers because the rates appear lower than the regulated utility, but be careful that such plans could have an additional monthly fee. Every week, I update fact sheets listing alternative supplier prices, compared with the the rates of regulated utilities. By my count, about a…...
Tell the White House: no bailouts for failing nuclear and coal plants
President Trump is considering a bailout of struggling nuclear and coal plants across the country to prevent a (non-existent) “grid emergency”. If the plan goes through, parts of the power sector would be nationalized for the next two years. For consumers, that means possibly paying billions of dollars more to prop…...
Save water and money with Chicago’s MeterSave program
The City of Chicago offers residential single-family and two-flat homeowners the option of having a water meter installed to help them save water–and money–through the MeterSave program. Water bills in homes without meters are tied to to various factors, from building size to number of plumbing fixtures. But with a water…...
Big drop in Ameren power price
Good news: Ameren Illinois’ power price is going DOWN significantly June 1. As a watchdog that fought for market reforms, CUB is pleased that the hard work of consumer advocates is paying off. Bad news: Ameren has proposed two rate hikes for 2019. Please, read about Ameren’s lower electricity price, and, if you haven’t already,…...
ComEd power price going up
Big developments on your ComEd bills: One part of your bill went DOWN, another is going UP—and it could get even worse if some giant power generators get their way in Washington. Read what’s happening to your ComEd bills, and, if you haven’t already, please sign our petition against two proposals in Washington that…...
Urge Governor Rauner to veto House Bill 4508
The Illinois House and Senate have passed a bill that could raise water rates for many Illinois consumers. House Bill 4508 renews old legislation that allows Illinois American Water and Aqua Illinois–the big corporations pushing the bill–to raise existing customers’ rates in order to bankroll the purchase of municipal water…...
