By Samantha Vercellino Richard Carlson is more than conscious of his home energy use. The Chicago resident, who owns a studio apartment, takes care in turning off the lights before work and using his air conditioner only on the hottest days. It is because of his commitment to being energy…...
Which power suppliers are earning the most complaints?
Shopping for electricity suppliers can be a minefield. Illinois consumers need helpful tools to avoid confusing offers, bad deals, misleading marketing, and high-pressure sales tactics. Fortunately, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) publishes an excellent resource: the Retailer Electric Supplier Scorecard. The scorecard reveals which suppliers are earning the highest and lowest complaint rates…...
So what the heck is a green plan?
Crain’s Chicago Business has shined a spotlight on a “green” plan offered by Ethical Electric, which has been CUB’s biggest source of questions this year among dozens of alternative electric and gas suppliers. A direct mail piece by Ethical is short on detail on the plan’s actual cost, and how it…...
Julie’s report: Big ICC developments against bad power marketing
Today, CUB sent out an alert from Litigation Director Julie Soderna about two big developments in the battle to clean up Illinois’ competitive electricity market. The consumer watchdog is asking everyone to send a message to the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC), urging regulators: Don’t stop now! Here’s what’s happened…. Sperian…...
“No solicitors”
Are you fed up with aggressive and misleading door-to-door marketing? At CUB, we consider it our duty to defend consumers from deceptive business practices from alternative electric and gas suppliers (We even helped negotiate $570,000 in consumer refunds from suppliers in 2015). But we need your help to accomplish this…...
End door-to-door sales!
Sick of alternative energy suppliers knocking at your door? We are, too! Illinois residents have the option of choosing their gas and electric suppliers. With the lure of new customers, many alternative gas and electric suppliers have sent representatives through neighborhoods to try to attract business. Having the freedom to choose your…...
At it again…
Apparently, Sperian Energy has taken the expression, “When the cat’s away, the mouse will play” to heart. After a history of concerns with Sperian Energy, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) last week launched a formal investigation of the alternative electric supplier for its allegedly deceptive and misleading marketing practices. After receiving…...
A big change for Chicagoans… and a free tool to help
Beginning in August, more than 600,000 Chicago households will switch from the City’s municipal power deal with Constellation Energy back to ComEd, marking the end of the largest deal of its kind in the country. With the mass exodus of customers, Chicago residents need to be on high alert. The big…...
CUB launches free calculator to help you save!
The electric market just ain’t what it used to be. Proof? A recent ICC report shows that customers with ComEd, the regulated utility, saved $73.4 million more than customers with alternative electric suppliers from May 2014 to May 2015,. That’s a far cry from just two years ago, when consumers saved…...
