Saving Money Archives | Citizens Utility Board

CUB’s money-saving events in September

Jim Chilsen — Mon, 01 Sep 2025 00:02:29 +0000

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CUB’s money-saving events in August

Elizabeth — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 14:55:03 +0000

CUB’s Outreach team travels across the state to staff free events giving consumers energy efficiency tips for their home, educating them on how clean energy can cut their utility bills and helping people protect themselves from scams and rip-offs. As the hot summer drags on, CUB can help you learn how to make your home more efficient. We hope to see you at an event soon! 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 2, Go Green LaGrange’s 2nd Annual Sustainable Summer Expo (in-person) Go Green LaGrange’s 2nd Annual Sustainable Summer Expo will be held at Plymouth Place Senior Living Community’s Auditorium (315 N. La Grange Rd., La Grange Park, IL 60526). Come visit the CUB table for helpful information about lowering utility bills, as well as giveaways! 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m., Monday, Aug. 4, Morris Senior Health Fair (in-person) The Morris Senior Health Fair will be held at Saratoga Elementary School’s Gymnasium (4040 N. Division St., Morris, IL 60450). Visit the CUB table for helpful information about lowering utility bills, as well as giveaways! 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 9, Mano a Mano Back to School Resource Fair (in-person) Visit the Mano a Mano Back to School Resource Fair at the Round Lake Area Park District’s Sports Center (2004 Municipal Way, Round Lake Beach, IL 60073). The CUB table will feature helpful information about lowering utility bills, as well as giveaways! The community is invited to join in this fun event for the whole family, filled with amazing activities, resources, gifts and more surprises. 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 9, Rep. Will Guzzardi’s Annual Back to School Fair (in-person) Rep. Will Guzzardi’s Annual Back to School Fair is at Kelvyn Park (4438 W Wrightwood Ave, Chicago, IL 60639). Stop by the CUB table for helpful information about lowering utility bills, as well as giveaways! 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m., Monday, Aug. 11: Kane County Solar Power Hour (virtual) Join us for a Solar Power Hour, where you’ll discover how solar energy can lower your bills, support the local economy, and contribute to a healthier environment. You will also learn about Switch Together Chicagoland, a group-by program that can make solar power more affordable. Please register in advance here. 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Monday, Aug. 11, Ready, Set, Solar! How to Get Started with Solar Energy in Your Home or Business (in-person) Interested in learning if solar energy is a good fit for your home or business? Not sure where to start? Join CUB at the Harold Washington Library (400 S. State St., Chicago, IL 60605) for a free workshop to answer all your questions. Experts from the Chicago Department of Environment, Elevate, 548 Enterprise, and CUB will provide information on how solar energy can benefit you, how to get started, and how to avoid common pitfalls. Please register in advance here. 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Tuesday, Aug 12, Evergreen Park Utility Bill Clinic (in-person) Join CUB at the Evergreen Park Public Library (9400 S. Troy Ave., Evergreen Park, IL 60805) for a free event to advise residents on reducing electric, gas, and both […]

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Jumpstart your spring cleaning with energy efficiency tips from CUB

Elizabeth — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 16:15:35 +0000

It’s time to get your home ready for warmer weather. Remember, energy efficiency is just as important during hot weather as it is in cold, so consider adding these home maintenance tasks to your spring cleaning checklist: Air conditioning maintenance. A properly maintained AC system can help you save hundreds a year. Clean or replace your air conditioning unit’s filter every one to two months to ensure proper and efficient performance. (This is true whether you have a window unit or a central AC system). Vacuum your air intake vents regularly to remove dust and clear registers of objects that might block the airflow. Also, have an HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) specialist inspect your central air conditioner at least once a year–and the spring is a good time. Check your windows and doors. After the winter, there may be damage to your windows and doors that could cause cool air to escape, taking your hard-earned money with it. Check for any leaks or cracks and seal them with weatherstripping or caulk, which you can buy at your local hardware store. Take stock of your window and door screens. Look for any areas that need patching. Remove your storm windows and replace them with screens, and if you have a screen door dust it off and inspect it, and plan to install it. Screens allow natural breezes to circulate in your home on mild summer days. Consider investing in fans. By strategically using floor and ceiling fans, along with existing ventilation, you can get away with setting your thermostat one to two degrees higher and save money on your power bills. Giving your current fans a good cleaning once they’re out of storage can help them run more efficiently. Switch the direction of your ceiling fans. In colder months, run your ceiling fan clockwise (from your position, looking up at it). When the weather gets warm, it’s time to run your ceiling fans counterclockwise (CUB has instructions on how to do that) to push cool air down. Circulating cool air will reduce the need for your air conditioner to work as hard (you can set it a few degrees higher), saving energy and money. Don’t forget to turn off the fan when you leave the room–fans cool people, not rooms. (Bonus tip: If you haven’t used your ceiling fans since last summer, be sure to wipe down the blades to remove any dust that has accumulated.) Consider upgrading your thermostat. If you want more control of your energy bills this summer, consider replacing your old thermostat with a programmable one or a smart thermostat. Smart thermostats use sensors that continuously monitor temperature, humidity, and other variables throughout your house. According to Energystar.gov, on average, smart thermostats save customers 8% on heating and cooling bills yearly. Get a home energy assessment. Many utilities offer home energy assessments at no cost to the customer–and oftentimes you can get free products, such as LED bulbs, to help improve your home’s efficiency. Ask your gas/electric company about such services. Here’s info about ComEd’s program, which offers extra benefits for lower-income customers, and Ameren’s […]

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CUB update: What about those appliance rebates in the Inflation Reduction Act?

Elizabeth — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 21:50:40 +0000

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 that the president signed into law in 2022, contains several tax credits and rebates helping consumers to improve their home’s energy efficiency and enjoy the benefits of electrification. Some provisions are available to Illinois consumers now, including: Home Energy Efficiency and Weatherization Tax Credit: Allows consumers to claim up to $1,200 a year until 2033 for energy efficiency upgrades, such as home energy audits and electric panel upgrades. It provides a separate $2,000 one-time tax credit for space or water heater upgrades. Clean Energy Tax Credit: Allows consumers to receive up to 30 percent of project costs back for rooftop solar, geothermal heat pumps, or battery storage. Additionally, there is a $7,500 income-qualified tax credit available for new electric vehicles. However, so far, Illinois has not implemented another IRA provision: the Home Electrification and Appliance Rebate (HEAR). In order to receive federal funding and launch the rebate program, each state must submit an application and receive approval by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Office of Energy) submitted its HEAR application in the summer of 2024, and it’s currently awaiting DOE approval. While we wait, here’s more information about the program as well as changes to the incentives that will be offered: A big advantage of the HEAR rebate is that – unlike the tax credits we describe above – it’s accessible even if you don’t owe federal taxes. Under the HEAR program, Illinois consumers will be able to receive rebates of up to $14,000 on home electrification projects, and the program will give them the flexibility to mix and match from different rebate categories. For example, a consumer could receive multiple rebates–such as up to $840 for an electric stove and up to $8,000 for an electric heat pump–until they hit the $14,000 cap. Once it gets the OK to launch the program, the Illinois EPA plans to modify the income qualifications so that lower median income households can access program funds first. Initially, the program was designed for consumers at or below 80 percent to 150 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI). Consumers at 80 percent AMI or less were able to take advantage of rebates covering the full cost of a project, up to the $14,000 cap. Anyone who fell at 81 percent to 150 percent AMI were eligible to have half of the project cost covered, up to the $14,000 cap. But Illinois has proposed changing eligibility to lower-income households (80 percent AMI or lower) only and adjusting funding distribution, based on demand and interest. Another important detail: Unlike with programs in other states, the Illinois EPA has said they are not planning to issue retroactive rebates through this program. This is different from other states’ programs, so it’s important to note this when planning your energy efficiency upgrades. As […]

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Saving energy and money at home– the renter’s edition

Elizabeth — Mon, 22 May 2023 16:11:32 +0000

By: Kate Shonk Sustainable Communities Liason The summer cooling season is upon us, and at CUB we’re here to help all Illinoisans save energy and money. For consumers who rent their homes, it can be hard to have control over their building’s efficiency measures–but you still have options. Even if you don’t pay an electric bill, it’s a good idea not to waste energy, for the sake of the power grid and the planet. To start, a simple way to weatherize a rental could involve air-sealing any drafts around windows or doors. This includes using weatherstripping, caulk, or plastic over windows. Once the home is better sealed, it’s easier to keep the air inside and use less energy to cool a residence. The next step is changing your usage habits. In a hot summer, there are ways to reduce a spike in usage from air conditioning: Use fans and open windows before reverting to air conditioning. Make sure any ceiling fans are flipped to summer mode (run counterclockwise), to create a downdraft. Watch CUB’s video. If you do need to use your AC, be conscious about the temperature setting. Always defer to your own health and comfort, but aim to keep your AC set at about 74 degrees. Turn off your AC or any fans before leaving your apartment. Make sure the AC unit is properly sized for the room. Visit this EnergyStar webpage to learn how to size your AC. Regularly clean the filter on your AC unit. Additionally, while air conditioning will account for a large majority of your summer electric bill, you can still save energy by unplugging unused devices and appliances. Vampire power – or power wasted from appliances and devices left plugged in – can account for around 23 percent of a home’s power consumption. Similarly, lighting accounts for around 15 percent of consumption. Be sure to turn off any lights not in use, and switch out any old light bulbs for LED bulbs. In addition to DIY weatherization and efficiency, utility companies do offer programs geared toward renters. An important program to check out is the Multi-Family Home Energy Assessment offered by ComEd, Nicor, Peoples Gas, Northshore Gas, and Ameren. Through this free offering, an energy advisor can do a comprehensive walkthrough of your unit to see where you can be more energy efficient. Along with the walkthrough, the program includes free energy-efficient products, such as LED light bulbs, programmable thermostats, efficient showerheads, advanced power strips, and more. Important note for renters: You must receive consent from your landlord or property manager before participating. At the bottom of this article, we’ve included a sample email or call script to receive permission from your landlord to participate. For a more comprehensive overview of energy efficiency and demand response programs, community solar, and all things utility-related for renters, order a free copy of CUB’s Renter’s Utility Guide! Sample Letter: Subject line: Request for Home Energy Assessment Approval Greetings, I hope this message finds you well! I’m a resident of (address), and I’m writing to receive your approval to participate in the Home Energy Savings program offered […]

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For Earth Month (and every month): Fight Climate Change at Home

Elizabeth — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 22:08:25 +0000

You can reduce your carbon footprint with a few simple tips to help you save money, save the planet, and save your peace of mind. Utility-Based Programs Check with your utility about any energy efficiency programs available to residents. Free at-home energy assessments are offered by ComEd and Ameren. They offer free efficiency upgrades (LED bulbs, low-flow showerheads, programmable thermostats) and will install them on the spot. “Demand response” programs reward you for using less energy during peak energy usage hours and thus help you save money while saving the planet. For example, ComEd’s Peak Time Savings and Ameren’s Peak Time Rewards programs both offer credits on your power bill for reducing energy consumption when the demand is high. Also, learn more about ComEd’s Hourly Pricing and Ameren’s Power Smart Pricing programs. They charge you an hourly, and often lower, rate for power during off-peak times. Those programs have been saving customers an average of 10-15 percent on the supply portion of bills. Check on community solar deals available in your area for ways to enjoy the benefits of solar energy without installing your own solar panels. Solar for All is Illinois’ solar program for lower-income participants. This could be a perfect fit for renters and apartment dwellers. (Visit the Solar for All website to see if you qualify.) DIY Energy Efficiency You can also increase energy efficiency with a few simple home maintenance tips. Clean your air conditioning unit and filters to make sure they are running efficiently, and if you have central air, schedule your yearly check up with the HVAC technician. Be smart about the AC–put it at the right temperature during the summer, and turn it off when you’re not at home to cut energy costs. Keep the cold air in by locating and sealing drafts in windows, doors, and floors. Many Illinois utilities offer rebates for sealing and insulation. Energy Star has a great guide for getting started, and don’t forget to check the attic and crawl spaces. For your ceiling fans, this is a good time of year to change direction. Run it counterclockwise, from your position looking up at it, to push cool air down. Using a fan and bumping up your thermostat a few degrees will save your comfort and money. In the cooler evenings, consider opening a window to cool off the house, before you close it up the next morning. CUB Supporters’ Tips We get some of our best tips from you. For Earth Month, we’re asking CUB supporters to fill out a survey on how to fight climate change at home for the chance to win a bundle of LED light bulbs, and potentially save hundreds of dollars. Here are a few favorite tips we’ve received so far: “I do several basic things: adjusting my thermostat, lowering the setting on my hot water tank (CUB note: Setting it at 120 degrees, or the “warm” setting, is recommended) turning off lights when not needed, recycling, using my own bags when grocery shopping. I also combine errands, so driving is kept to a minimum.” -Thomas “We subscribe to a community solar power […]

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Chicago residents would save thousands by switching from gas to electric heat, CUB study finds

Sophia — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 17:57:14 +0000

With winter heating bills projected to balloon by as much 35 percent and Peoples Gas customers struggling to afford the utility’s controversial pipe-replacement program, a study released Thursday by the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) finds that Chicago residents could slash their energy costs by up to $47,000 over the next three decades by replacing gas furnaces with a highly efficient alternative. CUB’s latest study, “Better Heat: The Economics of Residential Building Electrification in the City of Chicago,” focuses on electric “heat pumps,” an ever-improving technology that can cool a home in the summer, but in the winter functions like a central air-conditioning unit in reverse, circulating hot air into a household. CUB’s research team found that households that “cut the pipe” and switch from natural gas to a heat pump would enjoy lifetime savings ranging from $24,716 to $47,104. In total that could potentially generate between $25.3 billion and $28.9 billion in cumulative savings for Chicago residents over the next 34 years. “The status quo with natural gas heat is unsustainable from both a financial and environmental point of view,” said CUB Executive Director David Kolata. “If Chicago wants to meet its important climate goals and protect its residents from out-of control energy costs, we have to give consumers a clean, affordable alternative to heat their homes.” CUB evaluated the costs and benefits associated with replacing natural gas with heat pumps under a variety of residential conditions. It found that the amount of annual savings attributed to heat pumps and the length of the full-payback cycle – the point at which the cumulative sum of those yearly reductions equals the upfront cost of installing the new system – varies depending on the occupancy of the residential building and the useful life remaining on its furnace. But across all scenarios, heat pumps will pay for themselves in as little as three years, and no more than eleven, while continuing to compile savings for as long as they’re in operation, according to the analysis. Specifically, people in new construction or those needing to replace both their furnace and central air conditioners at the end of their service life would see immediate monthly savings. Households that just need to replace their gas furnace would have a 3 year to 6 year payback period. In a retrofit scenario, where the furnace still has life in it, the payback period is longest at eleven years which is typical of other significant energy improvements, such as installing solar panels, according to CUB’s study. These savings numbers, while significant, don’t factor in the substantial public health benefits of replacing natural gas with cleaner alternatives. RMI estimated that air pollution from burning fuels in buildings led to an estimated $12.5 billion in Illinois health impact costs in 2017. The CUB study’s results point to a way out of the current morass afflicting Chicago’s natural gas heating system, Kolata said. While gas commodity prices are currently skyrocketing and projected to help raise winter heating bills by 35 percent, bills for Peoples’ customers were already escalating at a jarring rate, due to a pipe-replacement program tainted by overspending and mismanagement cited […]

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CUB releases new infographics, including COVID-19 alert

Celeste — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 20:28:33 +0000

Below is our gallery of new infographics, including an important update on utility consumer protections during the COVID-19 crisis. CUB thanks the Heising-Simons Foundation for a generous grant that helped us create this series of infographics about important consumer issues. Important utility customer protections during the COVID-19 Crisis Are you with an alternative electric supplier? Green Energy Suppliers Shopping for LEDs? Three things to know about the most popular energy efficient lighting choice. Real-Time Pricing

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Are you being overcharged? Send us your bills

Hannah — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 14:14:02 +0000

The last thing anybody needs in the middle of this crisis is to pay high utility bills. That’s why we’re continuing to analyze bills for Illinois consumers. “I’m afraid they may be overcharging me,” said one consumer who emailed her gas and electric bills to us. She was right: An alternative energy supplier overcharged her by about $18 in one recent month—that’s potentially hundreds of dollars in losses over the year. A Cub specialist was able to help her, but how many other people are overpaying? The forces that want your utility bills to go up aren’t stopping for Coronavirus, and that’s why CUB can’t either. Please consider taking two actions today: 1) Check your bills and make sure you’re not overpaying with an alternative supplier. (If you’re unsure, have CUB do a free analysis of your bills to see if there are potential ways to save.) 2) Answer the call of a generous CUB supporter who has agreed to match your donations up to a total of $1,000. We will immediately use your donation to fund our education campaign against rip-offs and to fight these crucial battles: Washington is trying to bail out dirty power plants, and that threatens most Illinoisans with a record-high electric increase of up to $864 million a year. Ameren wants a $102 million gas rate hike, and this year we’re prepared to challenge possible hikes from Peoples Gas, ComEd and Ameren (electric). We’re fighting to eliminate a surcharge that allows Nicor Gas, Peoples Gas and Ameren to treat us customers like their own personal ATM. We have to take a stand, especially now. CUB is the only Illinois nonprofit 100% dedicated to lowering your utility bills. Thanks to your support, we get results—over $20 billion in consumer savings over CUB’s history. Whether you decide to contribute or not, please know that CUB is in your corner. If you have any questions, concerns, or complaints about your utility service in the weeks ahead, please call CUB, at 1-800-669-5556.

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Your questions, answered: Chicago’s new Utility Bill Relief Program

Hannah — Fri, 08 Nov 2019 21:57:44 +0000

Last week, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced the details of her new Utility Bill Relief Program. Taking aim at the burden of overdue water bills on low-income residents, the new policy would provide qualified Chicago residents with a 50 percent discounted rate for water, sewer, and water-sewer tax bills — reducing a typical monthly water and sewer bill by $26 a month. Under the program, if participants successfully pay their discounted bills for one year, the city would forgive all previously incurred water utility debt. During the first year of program enrollment, the city would not shut off participants’ water, charge late payment penalties or pursue debt collection. The program has yet to be authorized. An ordinance to approve the new program is expected to be introduced in the City Council in December. The Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County (CEDA) will be tasked with implementing the program. The new policy addresses a need in Chicago — the city estimates nearly 20,000 people would be eligible to enroll in the program. The cost of water has increased by 166 percent since 2011 in Chicago, according to city data. As a result, water utility bill debt in the city has increased by 300 percent. A typical outstanding balance for people whose water was cut off in 2018 was $2,000. The city is owed over $330 million from past-due water bills. City Comptroller Reshma Soni said the program is an opportunity for participants to pay at least part of their bills. “At the end of the day, we feel this is going to be bringing in revenue that we wouldn’t otherwise have seen,” she said. Too many Chicagoans, especially low-income and the elderly, are “having to choose between groceries, life saving medicine and whether they are going to pay that water bill,” Chicago AARP Director Mary Anderson told Curbed Chicago, an online neighborhood publication. Mayor Lightfoot announced a moratorium on water shutoffs back in May. After the relief program goes into effect in March 2020, the city will resume shutoffs. So who qualifies for the program? Homeowners of single-family homes or 2-flats whose household income is at or below 150% of the federal poverty level. It breaks down as: 1-person household: $18,735 2-person household: $25,365 3-person household: $31,995 4-person household: $38,625 You must be the property owner and live at the address. Your name must appear on the utility bills as the customer. NOTE: If you do not qualify for the reduced rate, the city is offering several other monthly payment options to choose from, ranging from six months to two years. When can I enroll? March 1, 2020. How do I enroll? The program is run through CEDA. On March 1, 2020, you can contact CEDA by: Emailing your name and number to utilitybillrelief@cedaorg.net. Calling (312)795-8946 and leave your name and number. Processing an application will take about 30 days. What will my new water rate be under the program? 50 percent of the current $3.98 / 1,000 gallons, approximately $1.99 / 1,000 gallons.

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