Power Source

Illinois consumers are facing the possibility of hundreds of dollars in higher heating bills this winter due to natural gas prices that have skyrocketed over the last seven months. Natural gas utilities have charged up to three times more than their 2020 prices, with some charging more than a dollar per therm. For this episode of Power Source, we’re talking about Illinois’ heating crisis. Thanks to CUB's Deputy Director Sarah Moskowitz for joining host Hannah Finnerty for this episode.

In this episode of Power Source, we’re talking about the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act. I’ve asked CUB’s Executive Director David Kolata to give us a breakdown of the law and highlight some of the key parts of the bill.

Illinois hit a grim milestone at the end of last year. Residential consumers have now lost more than $1 billion to alternative electric suppliers since 2015. More than 1.6 million consumers are signed up with alternative suppliers and are likely paying too much for their supply. In this episode of Power Source, Matt Harvey joins host Hannah Finnerty for a discussion of alternative suppliers. Matt is a program coordinator for CUB’s outreach department and has over 6 years of experience identifying alternative supplier ripoffs at utility bill clinics and helping consumers navigate the market.

Over the past several years, private water utilities Illinois American Water and Aqua Illinois have been buying up municipally-owned water and wastewater systems across the state. And in 2013, state legislators passed a law that allows these water utilities to pass acquisition costs—$220 million and counting—onto their customers. As it stands, municipality residents have no say if or when their water system is sold off to a private company. Thanks to Bryan McDaniel, CUB's Director of Governmental Affairs, for coming on the episode. For more information on water privatization in Illinois, visit: https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/water-privatization-in-illinois/

Although headlines about the most recent federal stimulus package focused on financial assistance, the legislation also includes a fair number of utility-related provisions. The package makes solar power more affordable and accessible, it extends financial assistance for water bills, and it jumpstarts much-needed infrastructure upgrades and research. In this episode of Power Source, we’re talking about the utility provisions in the most recent federal stimulus package. Thanks to Michelle Knox of WindSolar USA for sharing her expertise and knowledge with us.

As we begin to see the first hints of winter weather, start preparing your home for the colder months. Akosua Goosby with Elevate Energy gives consumers some easy tips and tricks to weatherize your home and cut your utility costs in the process. SHOW NOTES: Hannah Finnerty wrote, hosted and produced this episode. Our guest on this episode was Akosua Goosby with Elevate Energy.

We all get robocalls, those prerecorded messages from computer-generated dialers. In recent months, CUB has been made aware of two new scams targeting voters and people seeking out COVID testing kits. In this episode, we'll tell you about these new scams and offer some tips to help stop the pesky calls. SHOW NOTES: Hannah Finnerty wrote, hosted and produced this episode.

Ever heard of the Clean Energy Jobs Act, or CEJA? It's comprehensive clean energy legislation that would secure savings for utility customers, ramp up renewable energy development in the state—and it does all this while holding Illinois utilities accountable to their customers. In this episode of Power Source, host and CUB staffer Hannah Finnerty gives you a crash course in the clean energy legislation. SHOW NOTES: Hannah Finnerty wrote, hosted and produced this episode. CEJA Petition: https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/tell-springfield-the-clean-energy-jobs-act-cant-wait/

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the dangers of fake news, but misinformation is no stranger to the utility world. CUB staffers in our consumer advocacy and outreach departments have heard it all. Everything from "Electric meters cause cancer" to "clean energy is a hoax.” On this episode of Power Source, we are debunking utility myths. CUB Lead Community Liaison Ivonne Rychwa is the guest on this episode, and CUB Communications Coordinator Hannah Finnerty hosts, writes and produces the podcast. To submit a question to be answered on a future episode of Power Source, email Hannah Finnerty at [email protected]. CUB's website: www.citizensutilityboard.org CUB's Consumer Hotline: 1-800-669-5556

It's a sweltering, 95-degree day in July. You've got the air conditioner blasting cold air around your home. But so does everyone else, and that increased--or peak--demand for electricity puts stress on the grid. In this episode of Power Source, CUB Executive Director David Kolata breaks down peak demand and explains the programs that incentivize off-peak usage. Show Notes: CUB Executive Director David Kolata was the guest on this episode, and CUB Communications Coordinator Hannah Finnerty hosts, writes and produces the podcast. To submit a question to be answered on a future episode of Power Source, email Hannah Finnerty at [email protected]. CUB's website: www.citizensutilityboard.org CUB's Consumer Hotline: 1-800-669-5556 ComEd's Peak Time Savings Program: https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/electric_peaktimesavings/ ComEd's Hourly Pricing Program: https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/comed-hourly-pricing-program/ Ameren's Peak Time Rewards Program: https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/electric_amerenpeaktime/ Ameren's Power Smart Pricing Program: https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/ameren-power-smart-pricing/

Thinking about going solar? For Illinois residents, now is the best time to make the move. In this episode of Power Source, CUB's Christina Uzzo lays out the different ways to go solar, the government and utility incentives for switching, and where to find good information about the renewable resource. Show Notes: CUB Environmental Outreach Coordinator Christina Uzzo was the featured guest on this episode of Power Source, and CUB Communications Coordinator Hannah Finnerty hosts, writes and produces the podcast. To submit a question to be answered on a future episode of Power Source, email Hannah Finnerty at [email protected]. CUB's website: www.citizensutilityboard.org Solar in the Community: www.solarinthecommunity.com CUB Clean Energy Page: https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/clean-energy/ CUB Consumer Hotline: 1-800-669-5556

In this episode of Power Source, we answer what consumer protections are in place for Illinois utility customers during the Coronavirus public health emergency. Show Notes: CUB Deputy Director Sarah Moskowitz was the featured guest on this episode of Power Source, and CUB Communications Coordinator Hannah Finnerty hosts, writes and produces the podcast. To submit a question to be answered on a future episode of Power Source, email Hannah Finnerty at [email protected]. CUB's website: https://www.citizensutilityboard.org CUB Help Center: https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/welcome-cubs-help-center/ List of Utility COVID-19 Responses: https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/blog/2020/03/19/cubs-guide-utility-services-during-the-covid-19-public-health-emergency/ CUB Consumer Hotline: 1-800-669-5556 Keep Warm Hotline (LIHEAP Contact): 1-877-411-9276