Maryland legislators have passed a bill that requires utilities to disclose their votes at PJM Interconnection, the nation’s largest power grid operator. The same legislation has passed the Delaware Senate unanimously and is currently active in three other states–and CUB hopes to pass similar legislation in Illinois. For years CUB…...
Op-Ed: Interstate Highways for Affordable Midwestern Power
By Sarah Moskowitz, CUB Executive Director If there’s one thing Chicagoans understand, it’s traffic congestion and how disruptive road closures can be to daily life. Anyone who navigated the construction on the Kennedy Expressway knows how important public infrastructure is for keeping this economy running. (Note: Read the version of…...
$10.3B renewable energy transmission project long-term response to capacity shortage
The power grid operator for Central and Southern Illinois has approved a $10.3 billion transmission line project that in the long term will bring more clean energy to the region and help prevent problems that have slammed electric customers with skyrocketing power bills this summer. The project, approved by the…...
With energy prices skyrocketing, advocates urge power grid operator to stop delays on new generation
Illinois legislative leaders and CUB are urging the power grid operator in Central and Southern Illinois to fast track renewable energy projects that could reliably power 4.5 million homes and help relieve energy problems in the region. At a news conference July 21, legislative leaders criticized the Midcontinent Independent System…...
New Ameren supply rate
People have been calling CUB wanting to know what Ameren’s new summer power price will be. Now we know! The price, effective June 1, is: 5.369 cents/kilowatt-hour (kWh) What you need to know: *If you are an Ameren supply customer—meaning if you are NOT with an alternative supplier—this is what you…...
Why Northern Illinois should care about the rate hikes in Central and Southern Illinois
Lately we’ve been discussing an Illinois electricity auction that sparked a 12-35% price spike for many Central and Southern Illinois customers. The spike was due to an increase in capacity prices—what consumers pay to ensure power plants can deliver electricity on the highest-demand days of the year. Every spring, MISO (the…...
Hey FERC: Investigate the rate hike!
Ameren customers recently received terrible news: Power prices will skyrocket June 1. It’s all because of an exponential increase in capacity costs—what consumers pay to ensure power plants are able to deliver electricity on the highest-demand days of the year. The average household could see electric bills rise by as much as $150 annually…...
Ameren customers, this could cost you $300 million!
Illinois coal plant owner Dynegy wants Ameren to join an East Coast power grid that could increase YOUR electricity rates—by $300 million. We blogged about this worrisome proposal last week, and now we want to hear what you have to say. In case you missed it, here’s some background on the situation: Dynegy…...
