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. We hope to see you at an event soon! 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 3: Grow Geo Power Hour (online)Join CUB, the Geothermal Alliance of Illinois (GAOI), Go Green Highland Park, Go Green Deerfield, and The Woods and Wetlands Group of the...| Citizens Utility Board
Gas prices for six of Illinois’ 9 major utilities are elevated, compared with a year ago, led by Liberty Utilities, which is charging a supply price that is about 157 percent higher; MidAmerican Energy, which is charging a price that is about 52 percent higher; and Nicor Gas, with a price about 41 percent higher, according to CUB’s review of September gas prices. Gas prices have been on the rise, with colder-than-normal weather last winter and record gas exports (meaning profit-hungry c...| Citizens Utility Board
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 to help consumers make informed, confident decisions about going solar with the IPA-administered Illinois Shines program. “Now is the time to consider your sola...| Citizens Utility Board
In a difficult summer of spiking electricity prices, Ameren Corp.–the parent of Ameren Illinois–has announced that income qualified customers who have fallen behind on their energy bills can apply to receive a one-time $150 grant, while funds are available. This support is coming from an Ameren program that is providing $4 million in assistance to agencies in Illinois and Missouri. Ameren customers who qualify for LIHEAP can apply for the $150 grant from Ameren through their local Illinoi...| Citizens Utility Board
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 was held in Springfield Wednesday night, Aug. 27, and another was scheduled for East St. Louis Thursday night, Aug. 28. Consumer watchdogs, including PIRG and the Citizens U...| Citizens Utility Board
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 an 11-month case proceeds before the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). Impact on Customers: Ameren said originally its increase would raise average monthly residential customer...| Citizens Utility Board
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 Ameren’s current $131.1 million rate-hike plan is nearly triple what the utility could possibly justify under the law. In recent years, customers across Ameren’s territory ha...| Citizens Utility Board
There’s been a lot of buzz about the impact of data centers on electricity demand–CUB Illinois Executive Director Sarah Moskowitz recently spoke at length about it on a Chicago radio station. This Q&A attempts to get through the hype and give Illinois consumers some facts. What are data centers? A data center is a facility that houses computer systems used for storing, processing and distributing data. A growing number of these facilities are used to power artificial intelligence. A r...| Citizens Utility Board
When we first warned consumers that a 45-50 percent summer price spike was coming, Commonwealth Edison estimated the increase would be about 10-15 percent on bills, or about $10.60 a month on average over the next year. But a series of heat waves combined with the spike appears to have blown that estimate up this summer. The Chicago Tribune reported on this bill shock, with ComEd saying the average increase from May to June was more like $67 and some customers complained of triple-digit inc...| Citizens Utility Board
Commonwealth Edison and Ameren Illinois residential customers have lost a combined total of $258.1 million over the last year and $2.06 billion since 2015, according to a CUB review of annual state reports. The watchdog called for state passage of additional consumer protections and warned residential consumers across Illinois to beware of rip-offs peddled by alternative suppliers door-to-door, via mail and over the phone. “The numbers show that going with an alternative supplier can be ...| Citizens Utility Board
By Clara Summers Manager, CUB’s Consumers for a Better Grid Campaign You may have seen a flurry of news about electric bill increases due to something called a “capacity auction.” Or worse, you opened your June ComEd bill and saw a sharp uptick. You can learn more about PJM’s capacity market and this year’s price spike in our previous blog, and by visiting our Help Center. Sadly, there’s more bad news. Prices are going up yet again–next June. Let’s break it down. So what...| Citizens Utility Board
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 Gre...| Citizens Utility Board
Illinois Solar for All is a state-run program that makes solar more affordable for income-eligible residents. CUB does not run Solar for All, but we have created this free resource to help consumers understand the program.| Citizens Utility Board
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Community Solar in Illinois” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:24|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”5/6″][vc_column_text] [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”What is community solar?” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:24|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][...| Citizens Utility Board
This is an evaluation of Illinois Community Solar’s community solar offering. If you are not already familiar with community solar, please read CUB’s Introduction to Community Solar first. Also, learn more about an income-qualified program called Illinois Solar for All. How will signing up for the Illinois Community Solar offer affect my electric bill? With a community solar subscription, customers join a solar farm through the state’s Net Energy Billing program. The solar farm earns ...| Citizens Utility Board
In July, Congress passed H.R. 1, the federal budget reconciliation bill. Unfortunately, the sweeping legislation eliminates a series of clean energy tax credits. That includes two tax credits that have helped consumers significantly reduce home energy costs through solar power and energy efficiency upgrades. This Q&A gives you the details. What credits are being eliminated? Several, but CUB will focus on two that have been popular among consumers we talk to. These tax credits, which were ...| Citizens Utility Board
By Sarah Moskowitz, Executive Director, Citizens Utility Board Nicor Gas usually delivers the heat, but at a recent Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) public forum in Joliet the utility was the one on the hot seat–over escalating bills. One Nicor customer walked to the microphone and directly addressed the utility bigwigs who were on stage to champion their proposal for the largest gas hike in Illinois history. The consumer said she was “heartbroken” over high gas bills that were burde...| Citizens Utility Board
Illinois consumers are no strangers to scams–a review of the latest statistics shows how the Land of Lincoln is a favorite target. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crime Complaint Center reported that in 2024 Illinois ranked sixth in the number of victims (25,446) of Internet-related crime and fifth in losses, at $479 million. In the first quarter of 2025, Illinoisans reported $77.9 million in losses connected to fraud, according to the Consumer Sentinel Network of the Feder...| Citizens Utility Board
A solar benefit called “net metering” is NOT going away in 2025, but it is changing, under state law. What is net metering? Net metering is a benefit for solar users. Under Illinois law, investor-owned utilities (ComEd, Ameren, MidAmerican) are required to offer net metering for renewable energy generation (such as solar power). This means anytime the solar panels a consumer installs generate more power than the household needs, that consumer can sell that excess electricity back to ...| Citizens Utility Board
