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Don’t say the “P” word

by Samantha Vercellino The weather is about to change–and not in a good way. Painful memories of last winter will resurface this week as the Midwest welcomes back the “polar vortex” which was triggered by Super Typhoon Nuri, the National Weather Service says. The Artic outbreak will bring below-average temperatures for…...

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Have you seen this gas supplier at your door?

Check out this hard-hitting report out of Canada about Just Energy, an alternative gas supplier that in the past has gotten in hot water over questionable marketing practices in Illinois. Remember, if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. See our tips from last winter.   ...

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DIY: Electric & gas bill analysis

by Samantha Vercellino Have you ever looked at your energy bills and asked yourself, “Why are they so high?” You frantically scan them in hopes of finding the problem but don’t know where to start. CUB analyzes thousands of bills a year. These are three key questions we ask about any electric…...

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CUB Action Network members say NO to Big Telecom

Consumer advocates expect Big Telecom to mount a new push to eliminate important consumer protections on home phone service in Illinois–and CUB Action Network members have something to say about it. The Illinois Telecommunications Act—important legislation that protects your rights and keeps telephone landline rates low—is up for review in 2015. In…...

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How low is too low?

By Samantha Vercellino It’s the perfect time to throw on your comfiest sweater, take some simple steps to weatherize your home and turn down your home’s heat. The lower the temperature, the more you save. But, before you crank down your thermostat, here’s what you need to know. With each…...

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Goodbye to affordable landline service?

While you’re heading to the polls today, CUB is gearing up for a key legislative battle this spring. The Illinois Telecommunications Act—important legislation that protects your rights and keeps telephone landline rates low—is scheduled to be rewritten in 2015. Millions of Illinois households, including many of our most vulnerable citizens, depend…...

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Great advice and savings at CAPS Energy Efficiency Event

CUB was honored to be invited to a CAPS (Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy) Energy Efficiency Event at Chicago’s 7th District Police Station Thursday.  Several CUB staffers were on hand to help residents uncover savings in their phone, gas, and electric bills. Aimee Gendusa-English, CUB’s community service liaison, had the opportunity to look over the…...

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“What’s Your Energy IQ?” quiz answers

In the latest issue of The CUB Voice, we gave readers a quiz to test their energy savvy.  See the answers below! What’s Your Energy IQ? 1.) Which accounts for the largest energy expense in a typical U.S. household? A. Household appliances B. Lighting C. Home heating and air conditioning…...

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Feds sue AT&T for slowing down “unlimited” data plans

Unlimited data?  Not so fast! You may pay to cruise along on your data package–watching Netflix, checking email, streaming YouTube videos, listening to Spotify– but those speeds may not be what you think. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Tuesday that it is suing AT&T for slowing down speeds for customers who…...

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Enrollment for Peak Time Savings is Quick and Easy

CUB Director of Governmental Affairs Bryan McDaniel walked us through how to sign up for Peak Time Savings (PTS).  PTS is a free program for ComEd customers with digital smart meters that credits customers for reducing electricity usage on certain high-demand summer days. Enrollment is quick and painless.  Take a…...

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