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. Now in the winter heating season, CUB can help you learn how to make your home more efficient. We hope to see you at an event soon! 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 2, Homeowner Energy-Saving Workshop (in-person) Join the Citizens Utility...| 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 154 percent higher; Nicor Gas, with a price about 39 percent higher, and MidAmerican Energy, which is charging a price that is about 32 percent higher; according to CUB’s review of October gas prices. Gas prices have been on the rise, with colder-than-normal weather last winter and record gas exports (meaning profit-hungry com...| Citizens Utility Board
After an expensive summer, Commonwealth Edison’s new supply price has dropped slightly but is still about 47 percent higher than last year, the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) said Wednesday. Even though ComEd’s price is elevated, the watchdog urged consumers to review the “Supply” section of their bills to confirm they are not overpaying with an expensive alternative supplier offer, including offers negotiated by local governments. ComEd’s new non-summer power price (from October 202...| Citizens Utility Board
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 not overpaying with an expensive alternative supplier offer, including supplier offers negotiated by local governments. Ameren’s new non-summer power price (from October 2025 through May 2026...| Citizens Utility Board
Amid an electricity price spike sparked by unprecedented power demand, CUB joined other advocates to urge the Illinois General Assembly to pass the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability (CRGA) Act (SB25) in the October veto session. The legislation would implement a number of reforms to help reduce power prices and lower consumers’ utility bills in the long run. “Illinoisans are hurting from electricity price spikes – we call on state leaders to act and protect consumers by getting the ...| Citizens Utility Board
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, 2026, or until funding is exhausted. Beginning Oct. 1, these eligible households can apply: Older adults (age 60 and older); individuals with a disability; households wit...| Citizens Utility Board
In late 2024, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) approved a low-income discount rate (LIDR) for eligible customers of Illinois’ private water companies, Aqua Illinois and Illinois American Water. The program was launched in July of 2025. Who qualifies for the LIDR? To be considered for the low-income discount rate program… Aqua Illinois customers must have a pre-tax, household income at or below 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL, also called the Federal Poverty Income Gui...| Citizens Utility Board
It’s frustrating that Washington is killing helpful solar and energy efficiency tax credits at the end of the year–but we still have a chance to save two energy programs that have been threatened: The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and Energy Star. Washington decides budget appropriations for the next fiscal year, beginning Oct. 1. Here’s an update on both programs: LIHEAP What’s the update? Washington’s original proposal was to zero out funding for this pro...| 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. 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
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
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