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gas bills

Today in Springfield

Here’s why we need your help fighting Peoples Gas: Check out the latest numbers on your gas utility’s spending spree. Crain’s Chicago Business reports that capital spending at Peoples (and its smaller sister company) is “set to explode” to $3 billion over the next five years. In one year, Peoples Gas…...

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Peoples Gas sets lowest rate in almost 3 years (plus, see your March gas prices)

Amid a pipeline-replacement program that could lead to a Chicago heating-affordability crisis, Peoples Gas customers have a little relief: Its March rate dropped to its lowest in three years, at 26.53 cents per therm. That’s the lowest price Peoples Gas customers have seen since June of 2016, when the price…...

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CUB’s NEW Gas & Electric Guide

We are happy to announce that after months of research and writing by CUB’s experts, we are releasing an online Gas and Electric Guide, the first such publication in CUB’s 35-year history. This free handbook is a comprehensive guide to all the rules and regulations that govern how gas and electric utilities should…...

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CUB reacts to $230 million Nicor rate-hike request

This is a statement by CUB on Nicor’s rate-hike request: In the same year Nicor Gas won a $93.5 million rate hike, it’s now asking for a brand new $230 million increase. This is the largest natural gas rate-hike request CUB has seen in 35 years of fighting for Illinois…...

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Nicor disconnects service over 9-year-old balance

Ashley went 10 days without gas after Nicor charged her for a $1,200 balance from where she lived in 2009. That year, Ashley was forced to leave her Rockford home when the city condemned it. The house was boarded up and left unlivable. After the house was restored, a resident…...

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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…...

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Chicago’s looming disaster?

Did you know that last winter, you paid 80 percent more for natural gas service, on average, than your friends and relatives in the suburbs? And a big reason appears to be the mismanaged Peoples Gas pipe-replacement program. That’s what Crain’s Chicago Business reported in a recent story with this ominous…...

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Good news/bad news on Ameren bills

There have been major developments concerning your Ameren natural gas and electric bills. Here’s a summary: The bad news: Rate hikes! Earlier this year, Ameren filed for a $46.6 million gas rate hike before the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). Now, it also wants a $71.75 million electric hike. The increases…...

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The 5 questions you should ask every time you open your electric or gas bill

CUB staffs more than 400 events a year, which means on average not a day goes by where CUB isn’t somewhere showing someone how to save money. Our utility-bill clinics are great events, but we want to empower consumers to do their own bill analysis. Read our how-to article, “5…...

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A message from Steve, a CUB Volunteer

My name is Steve, and one way I give back to my community is as a CUB member and volunteer. I’m proud of the work we’ve done this year—and one of my favorite moments is when I saved two customers from paying for an outrageous gas rip-off. So far, I’ve…...

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