After a hot, expensive summer, Ameren Illinois’ new price for electricity has dropped by more than 30 percent as of Oct. 1, the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) said in a consumer alert Wednesday. The watchdog urged consumers to review the “Electric Supply” section of their bills to confirm they are…...
A step-by-step guide to applying for LIHEAP
Far too many people are struggling to afford their utility bills, so it’s important to know the process for applying for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). According to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), the LIHEAP application period is October 1, 2025, to August 15,…...
Planning your pathway to solar: Illinois Shines releases new solar financing fact sheet
CUB encourages consumers interested in going solar to utilize Illinois Shines’ Solar Loan Financing resource to learn the many different ways homeowners can pay for solar projects. This is the second handout in the Illinois Power Agency’s (IPA) Homeowner Handout Series, which is part of an expanding resource library designed…...
ICC forums in Springfield, East St. Louis give Ameren Illinois customers chance to protest utility’s push for fourth gas rate hike in just 7 years
Illinois Commerce Commission forums in Springfield and East St. Louis give Ameren customers an opportunity to speak out against their utility’s $131.1 million gas rate-hike request–what would be the fourth rate hike the company has received in less than a decade. The ICC’s forums were requested by Illinois PIRG. One…...
Update on Ameren’s gas rate-hike request
Since we first reported on Ameren Illinois’ gas rate-hike request in January, the utility has adjusted its rate hike. Here’s a quick review: Ameren’s Rate-hike Request: The company has adjusted the amount from about $134.4 million to $131.1 million. It’s not unusual for a rate-hike total to be adjusted as…...
This Week: CUB Urges Ameren Customers to Attend ICC Forums in Springfield, East St. Louis to Protest Utility’s Push for 4th Gas Rate Hike in Recent Years
The Citizens Utility Board (CUB) is urging Ameren Illinois gas customers to attend Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) public forums in Springfield on Wednesday and East St. Louis on Thursday to protest their utility’s proposal for a fourth excessive gas rate hike in less than a decade. Consumer advocates argue that…...
Grim milestone: CUB review of state data finds ComEd, Ameren residential customers have lost more than $2B to alternative power suppliers over last decade
Commonwealth Edison and Ameren Illinois residential customers have lost a combined total of more than $258 million over the last year and more than $2 billion since 2015 to alternative electricity suppliers, according to a CUB review of annual state reports. The watchdog called for state passage of additional consumer…...
