CUB called the bill credits “a testament to the value of thoughtful, pro-consumer energy legislation,” but added: “We have to build off this success and pass more pro-consumer legislation, including reforms that hold data centers accountable for their costs."

A new statewide poll of likely 2026 voters shows the POWER Act (SB4016/HB5513) enjoys broad, bipartisan support. Nearly 70% support legislation to hold data centers accountable after hearing a brief description of the bill. Read the release and take action: buff.ly/1drNg5m

Alert: Just a few years after burdening customers with the largest gas rate hike in Illinois history, Peoples Gas wants a $200M increase. Sign our petition: buff.ly/Btytuhq

A new poll found that Illinoisans overwhelmingly support the POWER Act, legislation that would make data centers pay their fair share of energy costs. Watch the news conference live at 10am: buff.ly/eW53BuH

Today, CUB's Sarah Moskowitz testified at an IL Senate hearing on the POWER Act, legislation that would make data centers pay their fair share of energy costs. Without this reform we risk higher power bills & blackouts! Let's hold Big Tech accountable: buff.ly/8iIPKJT

CUB's Scott Allen tells #TheYonderReport that passing the POWER Act, and making data centers pay their fair share, is a top priority in this year's legislative session. Send a message to Springfield: buff.ly/1nM8meR

🌍 Who’s YOUR Earth Month Hero? Nominate someone inspiring in your community—and you BOTH could win a $25 home-improvement gift card. ⏰ Deadline: April 30 Tell us about your Earth Month Hero today: buff.ly/9WSDkw5

🚨 Chicago renters: Even though spring is here, your landlord is still required to provide adequate heat. Chicago’s Heat Ordinance runs through June 1—know your rights. Learn more: CHI.gov/heat

Visit CUBActionCenter.com to fight these utility rate hikes: North Shore Gas: $5-$6/month. Nicor Gas: Up to $6/month. Peoples Gas: $10-$11/month. IL American Water: $14/month (water), $28/month (wastewater). MidAmerican Energy: $18/month (electric), $6/month (gas).

“The Peoples Gas rate hike will be a hardship on Chicago neighbors,” said Ivonne Rychwa, outreach director of the watchdog Citizens Utility Board. “Everyone here agrees that they need to maintain their system, but they shouldn’t be doing it by bankrupting their customers.”

Lobby Day in Springfield this Wednesday, April 8! The Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition will be advocating for a number of bills, including the POWER Act, which would make data centers pay their fair share of energy-related costs. If you want to take part, learn more & RSVP! bit.ly/2026EnviroDay

CUB Outreach Director Ivonne spoke at Daley Plaza this evening for a rally to say NO to the Peoples Gas Rate hike! The utility has made record profits in recent years, it won a state-record rate hike just a few years ago, and now they want a $202M increase. Please sign our petition: buff.ly/M0w2t30

🚨 Happening NOW in Chicago 🚨 Peoples Gas is pushing a $200M rate hike—and this evening's rally highlights growing consumer frustration with rising utility costs. The Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition is livestreaming the event here, starting at 5:30: buff.ly/6I5sYtR

As Illinois exits the winter heating season, see what the major utilities are charging for heating gas in April. Read CUB's report: buff.ly/vj7kLHN

New and proposed data centers are causing energy demand—and our electric bills—to soar. The POWER Act is about fairness. It would require data centers to cover the costs they create—not pass them on to you! We can’t let corporations shift the burden onto us! 🔗 : buff.ly/FbTT9iQ

Peoples Gas is seeking a $200M rate increase—adding to affordability concerns for Chicago consumers. Public engagement and consumer advocacy remain critical as these proposals move forward. 📍 50 W Washington St ⏰ APRIL 1ST, 5:30 PM 👉 Register now: buff.ly/o8EOOlC

Passionate about consumer advocacy and cleaner energy? CUB's Consumers for a Better Grid Campaign works for pro-consumer power grid policy. We're hiring! • Outreach Specialist (FT) • Digital Communications Coordinator (PT) Apply by April 12 Details here: buff.ly/IjY53ep

🚨 Chicago—don’t miss this. Your gas bills are high… and Peoples Gas wants another $200 million. We’re coming together Wednesday, April 1 at 5:30 PM to say: enough is enough. 📍 Daley Plaza ✊ Be there. Bring someone with you.

Another rate hike! MidAmerican Energy is pushing for a combined average gas & electric increase of $24+ a month. CUB is deeply concerned that this will be a hardship for far too many customers. Read our statement: buff.ly/piycazx Sign our petition: buff.ly/hiKq1LQ

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is still available for households that qualify based on income. Check the eligible income chart and read our informational blog to learn how to apply for the program: buff.ly/w4i6Qzd

Tired of rising gas bills? Peoples Gas is pushing for another $200M rate hike. Join CUB, the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition and consumer advocates across Chicago on April 1 at 5:30 PM at Daley Plaza 📍 50 W Washington St Register Now: buff.ly/bbUTTrt

Join CUB for a Facebook Live on Energy Affordability and how you can save. Join us this Friday March 20th at 11am: buff.ly/tGTHUw9 For: ✔️ Energy-saving tips ✔️ Utility programs that lower bills ✔️ Community solar options ❌ What to avoid (like pricey alt suppliers)

Did you know utilities at the PJM grid operator can vote on policy that impacts your electric bill without public disclosure? HB 1802 would change that. This bill would require utilities like ComEd to report how they vote on key energy policies. 👉 Take action: buff.ly/GIPSv3W

We blinked, and the weather in Illinois changed! Energy efficiency is good for your utility bills and the planet, no matter the weather. Read our tips on staying safe, warm and energy efficient: buff.ly/5kHhRl5

ICYMI: Consumer advocates and IL State Representative Kim du Buclet - 5th gathered in Chicago to call for action against deceptive marketing by alternative electric and gas suppliers.

4 costs hidden in utility bills that have nothing to do with providing energy: • Rate-hike lawyers • Trade association dues • Corporate goodwill advertising • Shareholder insurance protection Shareholders, not customers, should pay these costs! Pass the Utility Transparency Act: buff.ly/0R4VPUk

Sometimes consumer advocacy means fighting rate hikes, and sometimes it means handing out money-saving utility tips in a church basement in Waukegan. One recent Sunday that's what CUB Outreach Director Ivonne was doing. Beautiful church beautiful people. This is why we keep fighting the good fight!

Big Tech data centers are booming, our electricity costs are soaring—and without action, customers could get stuck with even bigger bills. The POWER Act (SB4016/HB5513) would protect consumers by requiring data centers to pay their fair share. Take action 👇 buff.ly/o20ddq4

CUB's Scott Allen talks before a big crowd at a data center forum in Edwardsville tonight. Read our blog article: Making Data Centers Pay Their Fair Share. buff.ly/qvFgA7V

🌱 Spring cleaning can help lower your energy bills. As warmer weather approaches, a few simple home maintenance steps can improve energy efficiency and keep summer cooling costs down. Here are some quick energy tips from CUB 🧵👇 Read more: buff.ly/pbG6xlO

Today, Karen from CUB Español was in the Chicago neighborhood of Pilsen, attending an International Women's Day celebration. Guests were able to take advantage of useful resources and participate in fitness & art activities. Thanks to @Mujeres Latinas en Accion for a great event!

Big thanks to State Rep. Kimberly Du Buclet, AARP Illinois and Citizen Action Illinois for joining us in a news conference to crack down on alternative electric/gas supplier rip-offs. Urge Springfield to support HB 4313: buff.ly/ChdjoHt

🚨 HAPPENING NOW at CUB HQ: We’re holding a news conference calling for passage of HB 4313 to protect Illinois consumers from rip-offs peddled by alternative electric and gas suppliers. Some consumers pay 2-3x the utility rate, or more. Stronger protections can’t wait. Act now: buff.ly/ChdjoHt

Today, Illinois PIRG, AARP Illinois, the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition and CUB held a news conference outside Chicago City Hall to urge the City Council to help challenge Peoples Gas' push for a $202M rate hike. Sign our petition against the Peoples Gas money-grab: buff.ly/A8ZZ52G

March supply rates for 6 of 9 major Illinois utilities were higher than a year ago, including Consumers Gas (86%), Mt. Carmel (60%) and Nicor Gas (29%). And CUB is concerned international events threaten to make the market even more volatile: buff.ly/AZd10Id

Today, Karen from CUB was in Little Village in Chicago, giving a workshop in Spanish for parent mentors at Corkery Elementary. Several participants were able to spot unnecessary charges on their own bills and learned how to save energy at home. Glad we could help!

This week, Karen from CUB led a workshop on reading utility bills for our friends at Clean Power Lake County. This will help this organization identify unnecessary charges on utility bills and educate consumers about ways to cut energy costs. Knowledge is power!

⚠️ ICYMI: That $100 “utility refund” offer in your mailbox? It’s not really a refund. CUB reviewed the fine print and found a 15.5¢/kWh supply rate — far higher than ComEd’s current price. Always compare rates before switching suppliers. Full analysis: buff.ly/vQmtDba

🚨 BREAKING: CUB is in Springfield helping deliver thousands of petitions to pass the Utility Transparency Act. HB 4781/SB 3497 would eliminate ridiculous fees buried in our electric, gas & water bills — costs with ZERO consumer benefit. Shareholders should pay — not us. Act now: buff.ly/WXrt1bz

🗓 Today, Feb. 24, 6:30–7:30PM Watts the Impact? A discussion on Data Centers. Data centers are popping up in Illinois and across the nation: What does that mean for your utility bills? Join us at Downers Grove Public Library: buff.ly/wPEZJxh 1050 Curtiss St., Downers Gr.

Can't make it to a CUB utility-bill clinic? Fill out this form to get your utility bills reviewed for free from CUB. We'll tell you if there are opportunities to save. Fill out this form: buff.ly/4OvrF2V We also offer this service in Spanish: buff.ly/a8QugdN

Clara Summers, from CUB's Consumers for a Better Grid campaign, is featured on the latest episode of the Volts podcast discussing the PJM power grid operator, data centers, and rising power prices. Title: “What is PJM and why is everyone so mad about it?”

ICYMI: Is ComEd’s Delivery Time-of-Day program right for you? This optional pricing program uses delivery rates that vary by time of day. Households that can shift heavy electricity use outside peak hours may save. 👉 Learn more in CUB’s fact sheet:

If you're a customer of IL American Water or Aqua IL, you're accustomed to high bills. The Water Affordability & Accountability Act would introduce important consumer protections aimed at slowing rapid rate increases. Please send a message to Springfield: buff.ly/sbwvEB5

PJM will extend the capacity market price cap for another 2 years. Bills will still be high, but this could save consumers billions. It will give us some protection from even higher prices as we work to reform the capacity market & rein in data centers. buff.ly/02g6MGv

📬 Did you get a letter promising you a $100 electricity refund? It's not really a refund at all — it’s an incentive to switch your electricity supply to SmartEnergy. But CUB found their supply rate can be high. Read our analysis: buff.ly/tA5R67f

New CUB WatchBlog article: "Making data centers pay their fair share" buff.ly/Dvf5Be1

ICYMI, on @WTTW: Abe of @ILPIRG: “Nicor has raised rates already by 137% since 2017, & Peoples Gas rates have effectively doubled..." Jim from CUB: "The gas cos. should talk to the people who call CUB - far too many are struggling to afford their bills.” buff.ly/NnJlXmJ

Please urge your legislators to support the POWER Act. It's based on the simple principle of requiring data centers to cover 100% of their energy costs. Wealthy data centers must pay their fair share. Jim from CUB was at today's news conference.

Our 2026 legislative agenda aims to fight rip-offs, rein in high private water bills, eliminate ridiculous utility charges, and make AT&T pay up. Read CUB's Capitol Report: buff.ly/c9ZizVP