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Consumer protections

Alert: CUB urges struggling consumers to call their utilities before key protections expire July 31

Amid high energy prices, the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) is urging consumers who are struggling to pay their utility bills to call their utilities immediately to learn about protections available to stay connected to service. Some of those safeguards expire July 31. “It’s been a rough year for utility customers,…...

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Watch Out For Alternative Supplier Rip-offs With These Tips

During high-priced times, consumers wonder if they should switch to a gas or electric alternative supplier. Be careful.  “Alternative electricity suppliers are impacted by the same market conditions that are causing utility prices to increase, so be careful about getting lured into bad deals,” said CUB General Counsel Julie Soderna…...

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Consumer advocates secure utility protections after hard winter

Throughout the pandemic, consumer advocates, state regulators and utilities have negotiated consumer protections to try to keep people connected to service. The following is a summary of the latest protections, broken down by the major utilities in the state, according to the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). After reading this, CUB…...

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Urge Springfield To Fight Misleading Marketing

We’re asking you to join the fight against misleading marketing today. House Bill 4281 would prohibit a “non-utility individual, business, or entity” from using “a public utility name or logo, in whole or in part, in any manner to market, solicit, sell or bill for a home (i) insurance, (ii)…...

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As expensive winter looms, know your rights when it comes to disconnection

One in five Chicago households are over 30 days late on their heating bills as of Sept. 30. Cumulatively they owe more than $120 million, according to a report published in Crain’s Chicago Business. As we head into what could be one of the most expensive heating seasons in recent…...

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The dos and don’ts of robocalls

Do you get several calls a day from “Scam Likely?” That probably means your number is targeted by robocalls–prerecorded messages from computer generated dialers.  Robocalls are irritating, costly, and often illegal. In fact, the call blocking app TrueCaller found that consumers had already lost nearly $30 billion in the first…...

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CUB urges consumers to call utilities, access protections

CUB is urging Illinois consumers to contact their utility companies to take advantage of consumer protections available to them due to the pandemic. “If you are struggling to pay your bills, immediately contact your utility to find out what protections are available, and set up a plan to prevent disconnection,”…...

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CUB alert: People struggling to pay utility bills should call their utilities to take advantage of landmark consumer protections

CUB urges Illinois consumers having difficulty paying their utility bills during the pandemic to contact their utility companies to take advantage of unprecedented consumer protections available to them. “Anybody struggling to pay their bills during the pandemic should immediately contact their utility to find out what protections are available, and…...

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Memo from Julie Soderna, CUB General Counsel

To: CUB members, as requested by CUB Executive Director David Kolata While the pandemic has caused a slow-down in the economy, Regulatory Counsel Eric DeBellis and I have been busier than ever — in fact, our caseload right now stands at 13. These are stressful times, but I know that…...

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CUB staffer secures $4,800 refund from alternative supplier

If you’ve ever called CUB, there’s a good chance you’ve spoken to Jantay Gray, the woman who often answers our Consumer Hotline (1-800-669-5556). Jan is one of many outstanding consumer advocates on staff. This year, Sandra Marcelin-Reme, CUB’s director of consumer advocacy, sent the staff an email that exclaimed “WAY…...

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