Policy/legislation Archives | Citizens Utility Board

Consumers for a Better Grid’s 2025 Year In Review

Elizabeth — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 19:13:49 +0000

It’s time for another annual reflection from CUB’s Consumers for a Better Grid Campaign. With millions of customers dealing with electricity price spikes, 2025 was a busy year advocating for consumers at PJM Interconnection and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). As part of that mission, the campaign held four media briefings, presented at or attended eight conferences, intervened in at least 10 legal cases, and was quoted by at least 25 different media outlets. Here’s more detail on what we tackled this year… Consumer education Many people have never heard of PJM Interconnection, but it manages the nation’s largest power grid–from northern Illinois all the way to the East Coast–and it has a major impact on electric reliability and affordability for 67 million customers across the country. So educating consumers about PJM is important. More and more grassroots groups and organizations across the PJM region have been reaching out for information and ways to engage with everyday consumers about this issue. To respond to this surge in interest, we recorded our PJM 101 briefing, which to date has over 1,000 views! In order to help make PJM material more accessible, Karen Tolentino, the Clean Energy Outreach and Communications Coordinator for CUB Español, re-recorded the video in Spanish. Legislative victories After years of effort, Maryland was the first state to pass a bill requiring utilities to report the votes they take at PJM–and Delaware and New Jersey soon followed. Campaign Manager Clara Summers has testified on the bill for the last two years—it was exciting to see it pass! Hopefully we’ll see more states pass this pro-consumer legislation. In Illinois, the CUB team was instrumental in passing the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act. This sweeping energy legislation will help counteract high prices from PJM by bringing more batteries online and promoting energy efficiency, among other strong provisions. Litigation We intervened in at least 10 legal dockets at FERC, the Department of Energy, and in the courts on issues ranging from capacity market management, improving transmission planning, and protecting the ability of FERC to impose penalties on bad actors. There were a number of topics we worked on this year, but here are some of the biggest… Decoding the broken capacity market—past, present, and future Past and present: If you were plugged in last summer, you may remember that PJM’s capacity market produced record-high prices that would start to hit in June of this year. We worked to ensure consumers were prepared for the upcoming price spike (if you need more information and tips about spiking power prices, please visit our Help Center). In two Facebook Lives, Clara and Annie Warnock, Bilingual Consumer Rights Specialist, gave out important consumer information about the price spikes at the beginning and end of the summer. Future: Unfortunately, high prices will continue for several years. In July, the results of the 2026-27 capacity auction were announced–and once again the auction resulted in a record-high price. Clara was ready to break it down for the public, and Sarah talked through the results on WBEZ. In our statement, we wrote, “While we are relieved that the […]

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CUB Q&A: The Low-Income Discount Rate (LIDR) Program for gas customers | Citizens Utility Board

Jim Chilsen — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 16:44:20 +0000

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CUB Q&A: PJM’s Critical Issue Fast Path (CIFP) Policy Proposal on Data Centers

Elizabeth — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 16:12:51 +0000

What’s happening? On Wednesday, November 19, PJM members will vote on how to integrate data centers into the grid. As we’ve detailed elsewhere, data centers require massive amounts of electricity and drive up consumer costs. Some, but not all, proposals would ensure that data centers only connect to the electric system if we maintain reliability and affordability. Who is voting? PJM has 5 different types of members, Generation Owners, Transmission Owners, Electric Distributors, Other Suppliers, and End Use Customers (big industrial users of electricity and consumer advocates, like CUB). If you’re noticing how much power big monied interests have, and how little consumers have, you’re not wrong. Do state lawmakers have a vote? No. Does anyone represent the public interest? Only the 14 voting consumer advocate offices. Big tech companies like Google, Amazon, and Meta are not yet PJM members. How does the vote work? What are they voting on? There are 20 proposals! They all fall on a spectrum of doing next-to-nothing to protect reliability and affordability, to actually making data centers take responsibility for themselves. PJM Members can vote “yes” on multiple proposals. The vote is advisory, which means the PJM Board does not have to follow its results. However, proposals getting a significant amount of votes will certainly attract the PJM Board’s attention. What are the issues important to consumers? CUB is evaluating proposals based on the following criteria: -Require data centers to bring their own new generation or demand response for consistent service. Stealing existing generation doesn’t count. -…if data centers don’t bring their own generation or demand response, then they are required to act flexibly or be interruptible (can turn them off as needed). Data centers must never cause blackouts for the rest of us. -Improve the load forecast to make sure that PJM doesn’t double-count speculative data centers. -Overall, prevent data center capacity, energy, and transmission costs from falling on consumers. Which proposals meet CUB’s criteria? CUB has joined in with consumer advocates from Maryland and Pennsylvania on a proposal, called the Joint Consumer Advocates proposal. The proposal protects consumers from high capacity costs, limits energy costs, improves load forecasting, extends the price cap for two years, and starts a new stakeholder process to prevent data centers from increasing our transmission costs. The proposal was carefully developed with consumers at the forefront. Other proposals that meet CUB’s criteria include proposals by the Independent Market Monitor, the Legislative Collaborative/NRDC, and Silverman/Glatz. What are the stakes? Rolling blackouts and spiking bills. If nothing is done, we are looking at an average monthly increase of $70 on our monthly electric bills by 2028. By 2033, it could be $163 billion across all of PJM. That’s unacceptable. Read our other WatchBlog articles about reining in data center costs: How data centers are raising our bills in Illinois–and what we should do about it Data center distress: CUB, NRDC experts warn PJM states could get hit with forced blackouts, $163B in electricity capacity costs

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Breaking: CUB statement on final passage of budget bill

Jim Chilsen — Thu, 03 Jul 2025 18:48:53 +0000

A statement from Jim Chilsen, Director of Communications, Citizens Utility Board (CUB): The budget reconciliation bill that passed today represents higher power bills for consumers in Illinois and across the country. Tax credits that help everyday people use solar power or energy efficiency to cut costs at home are wildly popular and highly successful. These incentives are cost-effective ways to cut utility bills, reduce energy prices for everyone, make the grid more reliable, create jobs and spark the economy. This federal legislation ramps up the importance of Illinois continuing to pass strong, pro-consumer energy legislation, such as the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability (CRGA) Act, to build off what we have achieved and better protect consumers from high utility bills. These times call for strong consumer advocacy, and CUB is dedicated to working for consumer interests at the local, state, regional and federal levels as we fight for lower utility bills across Illinois. Background: The House of Representatives passed the budget reconciliation bill on Thursday, July 3, by a vote of 218-214. The bill passed the U.S. Senate on Tuesday. The vote was 50-50, with the Vice President breaking the tie. The federal legislation now heads to the President for signing. Among other things, the bill ends these tax credits by Dec. 31, 2025: The “residential clean energycredit” helps consumers recoup up to 30 percent of the costs of energy-saving projects, like installing rooftop solar The “energyefficient home improvement credit” helps people recoup up to 30 percent of the cost (up to $1,200/a year) for energy-saving projects, like a professional home energy audit; installing insulation; door, window and electric panel upgrades; and installing a high-efficiency air-conditioning unit. (There’s an additional credit of up to $2,000 available for buying an electric heat pump or heat pump water heater.) Multiple studies have shown that rolling back clean energy tax credits could increase the average family’s energy bill by hundreds of dollars within a decade. In Illinois, the League of Conservation Voters has estimated that the legislation could lead to a $168 a year increase in residential energy bills, and a 21 percent increase in commercial and industrial energy bills.

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CUB statement on Senate passage of budget bill

Elizabeth — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 19:33:29 +0000

The following is CUB’s Communications Director Jim Chilsen’s statement on the passage of H.R. 1 the Senate budget reconciliation bill. “The budget bill that passed the U.S. Senate represents higher power bills for consumers across the country. Tax credits that help everyday people use solar power or energy efficiency to cut costs at home have proven to be wildly popular and highly successful–these incentives are cost-effective ways to cut utility bills, reduce energy prices for everyone, help make the grid more reliable, create jobs and spark the economy.” -Jim Chilsen, CUB Director of Communications Background: The final vote on the bill was 50-50, with the Vice President breaking the tie. The bill now heads back to the House of Representatives for consideration. Send a message to your representatives urging them to preserve programs that help make utility bills more affordable. As it stands now, the bill ends these tax credits by Dec. 31, 2025: The “residential clean energy credit” helps consumers recoup up to 30 percent of the costs of energy-saving projects, like installing rooftop solar panels. The “energy efficient home improvement credit” helps people recoup up to 30 percent of the cost (up to $1,200/a year) for energy-saving projects, like a professional home energy audit; installing insulation; door, window and electric panel upgrades; and installing a high-efficiency air-conditioning unit. (There’s an additional credit of up to $2,000 available for buying an electric heat pump or heat pump water heater.) According to several studies this year, rolling back clean energy tax credits could increase the average family’s energy bill by as much as $400 per year within a decade. In Illinois, the League of Conservation Voters has estimated that the legislation could lead to a $168 a year increase in residential energy bills, and a 21 percent increase in commercial and industrial energy bills. One piece of good news: A provision that proposed a new excise tax for large-scale wind and solar installations was taken out of the bill. We do not yet have updates on two other programs that have been threatened in Washington: Energy Star and federal “LIHEAP” energy-assistance funding. Illinois has strong energy policy in place, and this development just ramps up the urgency to continue to pass good legislation here in the state. CUB will never give up fighting for pro-consumer energy policy on the local, state and federal levels.

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Statement: CUB Joins Other Consumer Advocates in Challenging Federally Mandated Rate Hike to Keep ‘Zombie Power Plant’ Open

Elizabeth — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 21:24:20 +0000

The following is a statement by Clara Summers, manager of the Citizens Utility Board’s Consumers for a Better Grid campaign, on a federal order to keep the Eddystone Generating Station, a power plant in Pennsylvania, open. The move could needlessly cost customers across the country, including Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) customers in Illinois, millions of dollars in higher electric bills. In a summer when Illinois electricity customers are already paying higher power bills, a new Department of Energy (DOE) order will unnecessarily add to our pain, and that’s why we are challenging it. The DOE’s maneuver is not about reliability–this is a handout to the fossil fuel industry, paid for by consumers across the region, including Illinois. PJM has already concluded that there are adequate resources for this summer, but the DOE has manufactured an emergency to prop up an outdated power plant that should already be shuttered. The DOE just made a bad situation even worse, and Illinois consumers will pay the price. In challenging the DOE order, CUB and other consumer advocates argue that keeping this “zombie power plant” open is not only costly for consumers, but it’s also illegal, a violation of the Federal Power Act. Background: Consumer advocates, including the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) of Illinois and Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office, are challenging a U.S. Department of Energy 202(c) order that has kept an aging oil and gas plant in Eddystone, Pennsylvania open this summer past its close date–at extra cost to consumers. Consumer advocates initially estimate that keeping the Eddystone Generating Station open 90 days past its expected close date will cost consumers across the PJM region around $5.1 million. If the 90-day order is extended–as expected–it will cost more. The operating units at Eddystone run on oil or gas and were built around 50 years ago (1974 and 1976). They were slated to be closed on May 31, before the DOE issued its order mandating PJM Interconnection, the power grid operator, and Constellation, the owner of the plant, to keep them open for another 90 days. The DOE vaguely cited an “emergency situation” regarding reliability. However, the challenge, filed on June 27 by the Maryland Office of People’s Counsel (OPC) and a coalition of consumer advocates, argues that no emergency justified the Department’s order and requests a rehearing on the matter. The DOE has 30 days to respond to the request, after which parties can challenge the order in court. Joining in support of the OPC filing were CUB, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office, the Delaware Division of the Public Advocate and the New Jersey Division of Rate Counsel. The DOE’s May 30 order on Eddystone followed a similar order a week earlier to the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) mandating that the coal-fired J.H. Campbell Power Plant in West Olive, Michigan remain open for 90-days at an estimated cost of $100 million. Consumer and environmental advocates, including CUB, are also challenging that order.

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Act now for our power bills, our power grid – Support the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability (CRGA) Act

Elizabeth — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 18:22:39 +0000

We need your help to push for new legislation–the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability (CRGA) Act–which would implement a number of reforms that are good for clean, affordable and reliable electricity. As you know, ComEd customers are set to pay higher supply prices on June 1, due to poor policy from the organization, PJM Interconnection, that runs northern Illinois’ power grid. This organization–as well as the other power grid operator in Illinois, MISO– tends to favor expensive fossil fuel power plans, at our expense. But the CRGA Act would implement a wide range of reforms. Among other things, it would improve: Improve energy efficiency for all customers. Promote wise power grid planning. Create a Solar Bill of Rights to protect people who want to install money-saving solar panels from unfair local laws. Give people access to flexible “time of use” electricity rates so they can save money during the day when market power prices are low. Our power grid is in need of a number of reforms at the regional and federal level, but the states have a role too. The CRGA Act would be a significant step in the right direction–it’s part of the solution!. Please take action: Urge the Illinois General Assembly to support the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act (Senate Bill 2473/ House Bill 3779) to protect our power bills and our power grid.

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Correction: CUB WatchBlog Update | Citizens Utility Board

Elizabeth — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 17:32:09 +0000

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Op-Ed: Private water customers in Illinois are crying for help. Will the General Assembly listen?

Elizabeth — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 16:23:07 +0000

By Sarah Moskowitz CUB Executive Director Hundreds of customers of Illinois’ largest private water utility packed an Illinois Commerce Commission public forum in Bolingbrook one recent summer night. They were fed up with how high their bills are now — and that Illinois American Water wanted to raise them by nearly $30 a month. That’s the largest utility increase I’ve ever heard of in my 24 years at the Citizens Utility Board. At one point during the raucous forum, customers yelled out the size of their average water bills: “$256!” “$350!” “$300, if I don’t water my grass.” Some helpful legislators were in attendance, but I wish more members of the General Assembly could have witnessed how much angst private water customers are feeling these days. Because our state legislators helped put customers in this predicament — and they can help fix it. Here’s a little history of how these companies have been able to cause so much hardship today: Back in 2000, private water utilities won the right from Illinois legislators to charge a special “qualifying infrastructure plant,” or QIP, surcharge. It allows the companies to spend customer money faster and enrich themselves through what is in effect speedier rate hikes outside the traditional rate-making process. In 2013, the utilities pushed for a state law that would allow them to buy up depreciated water and wastewater systems and charge their customers 100% of the acquisition costs. We’ve been keeping an eye on their shopping spree at our special website, CUBWaterTracker.com, and so far Illinois American and Aqua Illinois have charged their customers $402 million for the takeover of 59 municipal water/wastewater systems — and it will get only worse. And now both companies are pushing rate hikes before the ICC: Aqua wants $19.2 million more, and Illinois American $152.4 million. The impact would vary depending on where a customer lives, but both increases could jack up average water and wastewater bills by up to nearly $30 a month. Aqua and Illinois American try to soft-pedal it by describing the hit as “$1 a day” — but their 1.5 million customers can do the math and know a dollar a day is terrible. The companies argue that customers pay higher bills to secure quality service. But Aqua’s highly publicized service problems fly in the face of that claim — including unacceptable levels of lead in drinking water in University Park in 2019, a weeklong water outage in Lake County last summer and a boil order for Hawthorn Woods this summer. “I have no confidence in the quality of the water,” one Aqua customer wrote to the ICC. “I’m still drinking bottled water and my bill is over $130 a month.” While customers suffer, the utilities prosper. The parent companies of Aqua and Illinois American have raked in a combined total of $2.7 billion over the last two years. And the current rate hike requests suggest both companies have no intention of slowing down. CUB’s testimony in the rate cases exposed that they are pushing to raise their profit rate for shareholders to an obscene level — from an already excessive 9.6% for Aqua and 9.78% at Illinois American to 10.8% […]

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News release: Bipartisan group of lawmakers join with CUB to oppose water rate hikes, call for legislative reforms

Elizabeth — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 17:57:42 +0000

As frustration mounts among 1.5 million private water customers in Illinois, state legislators from both sides of the political aisle joined the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) on Wednesday to urge state regulators to reject rate hikes proposed by Illinois American Water and Aqua Illinois, call on the General Assembly to reform state water policy that has hurt consumers, and alert people of the upcoming Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) public forums on the proposed increases. State Rep. Dagmara Avelar, a Democrat from Romeoville, state Sen. Sue Rezin, a Republican from Morris, state Rep. Nabeela Syed, a Democrat from Palatine, and state Sen. Rachel Ventura, a Democrat from Joliet, held a news conference (video) with CUB Director of Governmental Affairs Bryan McDaniel in Bolingbrook–a community that has suffered under high Illinois American bills. They detailed how Aqua and Illinois American–the state’s two biggest private water utilities–have abused their customers in recent years: In January, Aqua, which serves about 273,000 customers in Illinois, filed for a $19.2 million rate-hike request that could increase water/wastewater bills by as much as $29.91 per month. Aqua’s parent company, Essential Utilities, saw a 7 percent increase in profits, to $498 million in 2023, and the utility last received a rate hike, about $7 million, in 2018. In February, Illinois American, which serves about 1.3 million Illinois customers, filed for a $152.4 million rate-hike request that could raise water/wastewater bills by up to $29 a month. The utility’s parent, American Water, made $944 million in profits in 2023, a 15 percent increase from the year before. Illinois American has won $120 million in additional rate hikes in less than a decade–an $85 million increase in 2022 and a $35 million hike in 2016. While they pay higher bills, private water customers have also been the victims of extremely poor service—including an Aqua water outage in Lake County in 2023 and unacceptable levels of lead in drinking water in University Park in 2019. While Aqua says the problem in University Park has been fixed, years later some customers were still drinking bottled water because they didn’t trust the company. Even before the utilities’ rate-hike requests, their customers contacted CUB to complain about excessive water bills, because water policy is sorely in need of reform in Illinois: Private water utilities in 2000 won state legislative approval to add a “Qualifying Infrastructure Plant” surcharge to bills, which has needlessly increased costs for customers. In 2013, the utilities successfully pushed for a state law that allows Illinois American and Aqua to buy up depreciated water and wastewater systems across the state and charge their customers to cover 100 percent of the acquisition costs. CUB Water Tracker, CUB’s special online center monitoring the problem, found that these for-profit companies have so far purchased 59 systems since 2013 and have passed $402 million in acquisition costs onto their customers. Private water companies often charge customers more, once they take over those municipal systems. CUB’s legal team is challenging the rate-hike requests, uncovering $7.6 million in overcharges buried in Aqua’s proposed increase, and $48.8 million in overcharges in Illinois American’s proposed increase. At the same time, […]

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