2021 was a tough year for utility consumers with millions of dollars in rate hikes and skyrocketing natural gas prices. Please take a second and take our poll: What was your most expensive utility bill throughout last year? These surveys help us better understand what Illinois consumers are going through.…...
Major CUB victories over the years
Centel refund/rate cut, 1986: $2,000,000 Blocked Nicor Gas rate hike, secured refund, 1987: $40,000,000 Peoples/North Shore Gas rate cut/refund, 1987: $27,000,000 ComEd rate deal rejected, 1987: $1,320,000,000 Overturned ComEd rate hike, 1987: $245,000,000 Illinois Power rate deal blocked, 1988: $3,000,000,000 ComEd rate deal overturned, 1989: $750,000,000 ComEd rate case settlement, 1993: $1,679,000,000 Ameritech rate cut, 1994: $465,000,000 10-year rate…...
Illinois home to lowest electric bills in the Midwest, nine years running
For the ninth consecutive year, Illinois had the lowest average electricity bills in the Midwest, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Illinois, which at one point had the highest bills in the Midwest, has now had the lowest since 2012. But there’s so much more to do, which…...
AT&T raises prices for Consumer’s Choice landline plans
AT&T has once again raised prices for its Consumer’s Choice landline calling plans. See the new prices below: Plan Monthly Fee Plan Details Call Plan 30 Downtown Chicago: $16.25 Rest of Chicago and adjacent suburbs: $19.25 Rest of Illinois: $20.75 30 local (bands A and B) calls (to places within…...
2021 Year in Review: Fighting for historic legislation, beating back millions in higher rates
Amid an ongoing pandemic and skyrocketing energy prices, CUB in 2021 sued a scandal-plagued utility, beat back millions of dollars in rate hikes and helped pass historic energy legislation. “I am proud of how our staff battled through yet another difficult year, but consumers deserve the credit,” CUB Executive David…...
CUB’s new money-saving kit
Below is a list of resources to help you protect yourself from scams, decode your electric bills and find ways to save. Watch this video about identifying alternative supplier ripoffs on your bills: ComEd and Ameren. Learn about the electric market and your options for electric supply: ComEd andAmeren. Your utility’s demand response…...
Ameren takes a step toward smart EV charging—how will it work?
By Sarah Moskowitz, CUB deputy director I don’t often find myself excited about something utilities do, but Ameren Illinois surprised me awhile back when they submitted a tariff offering a special program to electric vehicle (EV) owners who charge their cars at home. The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) approved the…...
