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Search Results for: %22consumer alert%22

Springfield Alert: Your action needed to stop “Right of First Refusal” proposals pushed by electric utilities

…Tell the General Assembly to say no to an Ameren/ComEd money-grab Stay tuned for CUB to announce its full legislative agenda this spring. In the meantime, sign up for CUB email alerts to stay in the know and please donate to support our work for Illinois consumers. Thanks for all your support, we couldn’t do what we do without you….

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CUB consumer alert: Tips to battle bitter cold at home

The Citizens Utility Board (CUB) on Friday released tips for Illinoisans to keep their homes safe and warm, with temperatures expected to plunge following a winter storm. “With dangerously low temperatures approaching, everyone’s top priority over the next few days should be to stay safe,” CUB Executive Director Sarah Moskowitz said in a news release. “Please make sure you’re staying…

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Reading Your Meter

…energy usage information that can be helpful in developing strategies to reduce electricity waste and save money. Both ComEd and Ameren allow you to sign up for text and email alerts. ComEd, for example, will alert you when your energy usage is unusually high. You can also sign up for reports that summarize your usage over a week and give…

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Alert: Having trouble with your energy bills? LIHEAP reopens Oct. 2 

As we head into the winter heating season, CUB urges eligible consumers to apply for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding. The application process reopens. Oct. 2. Here’s the schedule for this fall: Oct. 2: LIHEAP begins taking applications for seniors (age 60 or older), people with disabilities and families with children under the age of 6 years…

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Scam alert! Beware of these 6 scams in 2023

Illinois consumers are no strangers to scams–a review of the latest statistics shows how the Land of Lincoln is a favorite target. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crime Complaint Center reported that in 2022 Illinois ranked fifth in the number of victims (14,786) of Internet-related crime and seventh in losses, at $266.7 million. In the second quarter of 2023,…

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CUB Alert: ICC to Hold Public Forum on Ameren’s Proposed $481 Million Electric Rate Hike

…the electric increase only.) The rate hikes would take effect in 2024. For consumers not able to attend the forum, public comments can be left on the ICC website on Docket Nos. 22-0487/23-0082 or by calling toll-free at 1-800-524-0795 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, see the ICC’s news release. In addition to attending…

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CUB Q&A: Winter storm exposes the myth of fossil fuel reliability

By Sarah Moskowitz, CUB Deputy Director This past Christmas Eve, as many of us were busy with last-minute holiday preparations, CUB rushed out an email to people in northern Illinois with this ominous subject line: ALERT: Power grid operator calls for energy conservation over the next 24 hours. We were in the middle of Winter Storm Elliott, and PJM Interconnection,…

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A guide to energy efficiency programs for income-qualified households

…discounts on energy-efficient products at various retailers. Peoples Gas and North Shore: In Peoples Gas and North Shore territory, Public Housing Authorities can receive assistance for energy efficiency upgrades. In addition, owners of multifamily properties that are designated as income-eligible can qualify for energy efficiency retrofits. Renters can alert their property manager to the opportunity. Nicor Gas While not specific…

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Alert: LIHEAP has reopened applications

With another potentially expensive winter ahead, CUB urges consumers to apply for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding, now that the application process has reopened. Households at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level are eligible for LIHEAP funding. The application period runs through May 31, 2023, or until funds are exhausted. Be sure to tell…

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Tips for staying safe, warm and energy-efficient during Illinois winters

…detailed information on winter storm alerts. (Illinois-specific info is here.) Follow these guidelines if you experience a power outage: Contact your support network to let people know that you are OK. Also, monitor alerts about the outage. Keep your freezers and refrigerators closed as much as possible. The refrigerator will keep food cold for about four hours. A full freezer…

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