By Samantha Vercellino Ever since her grandmother fell ill, Cheryl took over the responsibility of paying her utility bills. Handling her affairs never troubled Cheryl until the 97-year old racked up $1,200 in electric and gas charges with the alternative supplier Spark Energy. Concerned her grandmother signed up with Spark…...
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…...
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…...
Big refund for Major Energy customers
When CUB conducted a review of the worst alternative electric deals in spring of 2014, we smelled something fishy. For example, we encountered several customers on plans charging up to six times the utility’s rates! And what company were those particular customers with? Major Energy. Those customer may receive justice this week.…...
CUB turns bad customer service into a $215 refund
By Samantha Vercellino Almost two years ago Helen Paul cancelled her services with the alternative supplier Kona Energy and switched back to the regulated utility. However, just recently she discovered her termination request never went through. Kona Energy was still her supplier. The Hazel Crest resident wasted no time calling…...
Q&A about June 1 electric rate hikes in Central, Southern Illinois
Ameren customers, you could be in for a rate hike on June 1. Read this Q&A to get the latest details. What’s happening? Customers in Central and Southern Illinois who are paying Ameren Illinois’ electricity supply rates may see a significant increase in their power bills from June 1, 2015 through…...
CUB saves gas customer from $1,624.52 mistake
By Samantha Vercellino Candy a Downers Grove-area resident was surprised to see that her gas bill had gone through the roof. She called Nicor Gas, the regulated utility, only to get another surprise—another company was supplying her gas. Knowing she and her husband never authorized a switch, Candy called the…...
CUB helps consumer uncover pricey monthly fee
By Samantha Vercellino When Starion Energy approached Valerie with a deal too good to be true, the Chicago resident listened to her gut and resisted the temptation to accept. Instead she headed to CUB’s award-winning website and uncovered a pricey monthly fee that the supplier failed to disclose. “The rate they…...
Consumer Alert: Highest prices in the Illinois electric market
The Illinois electric market can be confusing (and expensive!) but CUB is here to help. We reviewed more than 100 individual offers from alternative electric suppliers across Illinois and we want to warn you about the highest prices we found. Some of these rates about double that of the regulated utility! In ComEd territory,…...
Special Report: Is your community power deal still best for you?
Once, municipal aggregation—when community leaders negotiate power prices on behalf of residents–was a sure bet for electricity savings. Not any more. “Although it’s still possible to save money with electric competition, the era of easy savings is over in Illinois,” CUB Executive Director David Kolata says in CUB’s special report today. Kolata advises consumers…...
