Northern Illinois Gas lost its bid for a $32 million rate increase in state court because of the efforts of the Citizens Utility Board (CUB).

CUB created an $8 million rate reduction with the help of the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC), the rate setting body in Illinois.

CUB is dedicated to “fighting for fair and affordable utility rates,” said staff assistant Teja Ganti. The NI Gas case is one of many in which CUB has succeeded in this purpose.

CUB took part in the case against Byron One, a power plant near Rockford, in which the ICC forced Commonwealth Edison to refund $190 million to customers who were “excessively charged,” said Ganti.

The refund case was the largest ever in Illinois, though CUB thinks it should be more. Edison is expected to appeal the case in the Illinois Supreme Court, Ganti said.

Illinois Bell’s request for a $75 million rate increase for residential rates and $25 million for business rates is another battle that CUB is fighting, seeking a $165 million decrease in rates.

Bell “is a very profitable company,” Ganti said, and its request is unreasonable. Bell also wishes to enforce mandatory local measure services which would erase the present option for the services or a flat monthly rate.

Each call would be charged instead of paying a regular monthly fee. “They shouldn’t force everyone to have (this) system…since 90 percent of their customers choose the flat rate,” Ganti said.

Illinois Power Company is also seeking a rate hike which would cost the average residential consumer an additional $215 each year.

When Illinois Power sought an increase of $3.5 billion in March for their power station in Clinton, IA, the ICC awarded the company $60 million.

Its latest appeal seeks $265 million and CUB is asking the ICC to dismiss the case. “Illinois Power is trying to have the ICC rehash the same old arguments the company has been making about Clinton for the last two years–arguments the commissioners flatly rejected in March,” said CUB Executive Director Susan Stewart.

In addition to fighting rate cases, CUB also interacts directly with citizens.

“Hot Water, Cold Cash” is a new CUB project which “helps the community on a whole cut down on water consumption,” said Ganti.

The project, aimed at water and energy conservation, has so far been successful in DuPage County and Bloomington. The city council and legislatures have been very cooperative in supporting its cause, Ganti said.

With a $28 membersip fee to CUB, one receives a kit including a low-flow showerhead, faucet aerators, and toilet dams which reduce the amount of water needed.

The toilet dams “cut down on the number of gallons needed to flush a toilet,” which is one of the biggest water expenses in a household, Ganti said.

“Hot Water, Cold Cash” helps citizens save money on bills based on their uses of utilities. The membership to CUB also provides citizens with a quarterly newsletter, assistance with clerification of bills, and other valuable consumer services.