(Courtesy Illinois Institute of Technology)

ComEd should be allowed to proceed with plans to build a first-of-its-kind microgrid in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood, a state legal authority said this week. But environmental and consumer advocates aren't satisfied with the project. 

A new mini power grid supplied by wind and solar helps the Illinois Institute of Technology meet its 21st century power needs.

(Ameren Illinois / Facebook)

State regulators signed off Monday on an energy savings plan that consumer advocates say could cost downstate residents nearly 30 percent in savings on utility bills.

(Ameren Illinois / Facebook)

The Illinois Commerce Commission has until mid-September to rule on a downstate utility provider’s energy efficiency plan, which consumer advocates say would cost residents nearly 30 percent in savings on utility bills and jeopardize 7,000 jobs.

(Ameren Illinois / Facebook)

Residents in central and southern Illinois will pay nearly 30 percent more on utility bills than projected if Ameren is allowed to lower its energy savings target, environmental and consumer advocates said Wednesday.

(Daniel X. O'Neil / Flickr)

Efficiency plans filed by Ameren Illinois fail to comply with the state’s new energy law and could prevent the creation of additional jobs, according to a new report. 

The so-called Future Energy Jobs Bill would bail out two struggling nuclear plants. Critics say it would amount to the largest rate hike in U.S. history.

(Daniel X. O'Neil / Flickr)

Will there be a radical change in how consumers pay electricity bills in Illinois? 

(WTTW News)

A new bill in Springfield could see Illinois consumers paying higher electricity rates. But with the state already producing more energy than it needs, why are consumers being asked to pay more?

A small, windowless building on Block 37 is dwarfed by glassy new high-rises. A viewer wonders how it managed to escape the wrecking ball. Geoffrey Baer shares the story behind this unusual building, plus the history of the Marshall Field’s holiday windows and Kermit the Frog’s commercials for milk in this week’s edition of Ask Geoffrey.

Hundreds of thousands of city residents have chosen to get their electricity through the municipal aggregation program. But now many of those might want to opt out because of higher rates. Paris Schutz has more.

Utility giant ComEd's first female president talks about the company's future plans to keep customers out of the dark.

ComEd could lose more customers if hundreds of Illinois municipalities change the way residents get electricity. We take a closer look at the Election Day referendums, and what it could mean for you.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel touts ComEd's $2.6 billion investment in the new smart grid as good for the economy and good for consumers. Consumer watchdog group CUB promises to stay on top of the smart grid to make sure it is smart for ComEd clients. Elizabeth Brackett reports.