Opinion

Letter to the Editor from IL State Representative Kim Neely Du Buclet:

October 2, 2025

Fighting Back Against Predatory Utility Costs in Illinois

Across Chicago, Black residents are being squeezed by rising living costs, with soaring utility bills hitting our neighborhoods the hardest. For too many families, the rising price of electricity, water, and gas isn’t just an inconvenience, it’s a barrier to stability, forcing people to make impossible choices about food, medicine, and housing.

Over the last decade, utility costs in Black communities have risen faster than almost anywhere else. Predatory third-party energy suppliers exploit seniors, students, and low-income households with misleading sales tactics, deceptive contracts, and automatic renewals. Families end up paying hundreds more each year for the same service, a practice that deepens inequality and threatens community health.

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul has fought back, securing millions in settlements against companies like Palmco Power IL for signing customers up for overpriced energy plans without their consent. But enforcement alone is not enough.

That’s why I introduced House Bill 1284 , legislation that bans automatic renewals and rate hikes without clear, informed consent, while cracking down on deceptive sales tactics. It’s a commonsense safeguard designed to protect families from exploitation and financial harm.

Affordable, fair energy is not a privilege, it’s a right. To build a more just and equitable Chicago, we must hold Big Energy accountable, expand consumer protections, and ensure every household can access reliable, affordable utility services.

Our neighborhoods and our communities deserve better. Passing HB 1284 isn’t just about lowering bills, it’s about protecting families and securing a fairer future for all residents of Illinois.

Kimberly Neely Du Buclet
IL State Representative
5th District (Chicago)