Let’s pump the brakes on these Ameren rate hikes. That’s the message coming loud and clear from the Illinois Attorney General’s office. And it’s a message CUB wholeheartedly echoes. AG Lisa Madigan and consumer advocate group Public Citizen petitioned federal regulators yesterday to overturn a recent electricity auction that will lead to huge…...
Beware of utility imposters
More than 1,000 consumers have signed CUB’s petition asking legislators to help fight the utility imposter scam. In this awful scam, con artists knock on your door or call you, pretending to be from the regulated utility and demanding quick payment of a bill to avoid a service shut-off. It’s been…...
Beat the heat—and high energy bills this summer!
By Samantha Vercellino As the temperature rises, here’s a checklist to help you stay cool—and save money—through another scorching Illinois summer. Make sure your AC is sized properly. Contrary to popular belief, a larger unit will not cool a room better. Unlike an oversized AC unit, a properly-sized one will be more…...
“Always-on” electronics costing consumers billions
“Always-on” electronics and devices cost users $19 billion per year when not in use, according to a new report from the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC). $19 billion. Billion with a “b.” That’s about $165 a year in extra electricity expenses for the average household. How is this possible? It’s…...
1,781CUB members say “Hands off my water bill!”
Think you should have to pay for a service you don’t receive? We don’t either— and 1,781 CUB Action Network members agree! But that’s exactly what big water companies want. Senate Bill 1421 would give a big profit boost to the state’s two largest water companies: Illinois American Water and Aqua Illinois.…...
“A complete disaster”: The Peoples’ pipeline replacement program
A new report shows that a Peoples Gas pipeline replacement program has so far been full of hot air— and not much else! A recently released audit reveals Peoples’ multi-billion-dollar project to replace the City’s aging pipeline infrastructure has been plagued by mismanagement, inadequate quality controls, and faulty reporting and analysis. Consider this damning fact:…...
4,400+ messages sent by CUB Action Network this month!
By Samantha Vercellino CUB Action Network members have been on their “A” game in May. Over the last three weeks, they have sent some 4,400 messages to regulators and legislators to reduce rate hikes, save landlines and protect consumers’ rights. The issue at the forefront of most members’ minds appears…...
CUB Director: Consumer protections never go out of date
AT&T has made no secret of the fact that the company wants to strip the Illinois Telecom Act of consumer protections and completely deregulate traditional home phone service. In the company’s perfect world, it would no longer have to fulfill the “obligation to serve” requirement— and would be able to abandon…...
Save home phone service before it’s too late!
The Illinois Telecommunications Act—legislation that protects your rights and keeps telephone rates down— is up for review at the end of the month, and legislators must determine to renew it as is, or change it. Unlike CUB and other consumer advocacy groups, Big Telecom companies like AT&T and Frontier hope…...
Congrats to CUB’s “Green in 2015 Giveaway” winners!
By Samantha Vercellino Congratulations to Valeri DeCastris of Rockford and John Ivory of Arlington Heights! Both are the lucky winners of a $100 top prize for participating in CUB’s “Green in 2015 Giveaway.” “I’m just so thrilled to have won, especially since I have been a CUB member and huge supporter…...
