CUB gets a lot of questions from consumers wondering when they’ll be able to enjoy appliance rebates offered through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). We’ve got information about where Illinois is in the process of launching that rebate program–as well as some proposed changes to it. The IRA, federal legislation…...
Illinois Future of Gas: The Energy Efficiency Meeting
By Scott Allen, Energy Policy Specialist The purpose of this workshop (10/21/24) was to discuss the role and importance of energy efficiency in decarbonizing the gas system. In a word, I’d describe this workshop as “dizzying.” During these workshops I’ve become accustomed to the gas industry making fantastical claims that…...
PJM broke the capacity auction–but here’s how they can fix it
By Clara Summers, Campaign Manager Consumers for a Better Grid (a project of CUB) The electricity price for Illinois’ largest power utility, Commonwealth Edison, will go up significantly next summer because of a recent auction to secure reserve power. Grid operator PJM announced that its recent “capacity” auction sent prices…...
PowerMarket: CUB’s evaluation of PowerMarket’s community solar offer
PowerMarket is a community solar company offering subscriptions to income-eligible ComEd and Ameren customers. If you are not already familiar with Community Solar, we recommend reading CUB’s Introduction to Community Solar first. This is an income-eligible offer, but it is not through the state program designed for lower-income customers, Illinois…...
CUB’s monthly report on gas market volatility: November
Gas utilities file supply prices–called the Purchased Gas Adjustment (PGA)–each month with the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). Here’s what CUB uncovered in our review of prices in November, the first month of the winter heating season. Compared with last month, five of 9 major utilities are charging prices that are…...
Peoples Gas Customers Face Onslaught of Record-Breaking Rate Hikes Under Disputed Pipe-Replacement Program, Report Finds
A controversial proposal by Peoples Gas to continue overhauling its network of underground pipes would leave Chicagoans inundated by recurring rounds of record-breaking rate hikes over the next 15 years, a landmark report released Tuesday found. Meanwhile Peoples customers would continue to incur charges associated with the pipe-replacement program for…...
What are the Illinois Commerce Commission’s Future of Gas Proceedings?
In 2023, four gas utilities–Ameren Illinois, Nicor Gas, North Shore Gas and Peoples Gas–pushed for rate hikes before the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). Environmental and consumer advocates who challenged the rate increases also requested that the ICC order a process to study how Illinois will manage its shift away from…...
CUB Urges ICC to Cut Ameren Rate-Hike Request
The Citizens Utility Board (CUB) pushed back on a recommendation by state regulatory judges that the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) grant Ameren Illinois an electric rate hike of $315 million, saying the judges had overlooked key examples of overspending by the utility. The Proposed Order, submitted on Oct. 8 by three ICC…...
CUB to utility exec: Stop downplaying rate hike!
Addressing a packed public forum about a proposed rate hike that could average up to $27-$29 per month, a utility executive downplayed the increase by saying it “will be less than a dollar-a-day….” CUB Executive Director Sarah Moskowitz sparked applause at the forum when she said: “A ‘dollar a day’…...
