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Scams

Breaking: CUB, City of Chicago call for probe of Illinois electric market

Just four weeks ago, when CUB released a report on Illinois’ electricity market, we warned consumers about bad power deals. Today, CUB and the City of Chicago took another step forward to reform the market. CUB and the City today filed a petition asking the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) to launch…...

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CUB survey respondents are savvy consumers!

After a 115 percent in complaints over the year regarding alternative electric suppliers, CUB issued a consumer alert this week about the worst deals in the market.  The alert included a survey asking consumers their impressions of alternative suppliers. First off, we want to congratulate Kenneth W. of Belleville for winning our survey drawing.…...

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Five big red flags in Illinois’ electric market

CUB today is releasing a report that shows how Illinois’ electricity market has become more confusing, more expensive, and more treacherous in just the last 12 months. And the watchdog is concerned that consumers who are seeing headlines about summer rate hikes will get scared into bad deals. “Right now,…...

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Get the facts on natural gas prices

Jaws dropped as gas prices skyrocketed in the early months of 2014–as much as 150 percent for Peoples Gas customers. CUB is here to answer your collective “huh?” Our Facts on Natural Gas Prices  explains the forces behind gas prices, and the steps consumers can take to save money during these…...

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Support or Scam?

Think twice before you answer any calls from people claiming to be “customer support.”  They could be trying to scam you! In our recent scam alert survey, respondents alerted us to some new and nasty cons making the rounds.  We want to give consumers a heads-up about one deception that…...

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Would the real regulated gas company please stand up?

Annette Evans, consumer rights associate at CUB, recently received a call from a consumer whose gas bill had mysteriously skyrocketed to nearly $600.  After some sleuthing, Annette discovered the culprit: without her knowledge, the consumer had been signed up with Nicor Advanced Energy— an unregulated sister company of the utility…...

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Rip-off response

Earlier this week, we issued tips to protect yourself from bad deals in the natural gas market.  More than 1,800 of you responded to our accompanying survey, and about 56 percent of you said you had encountered a pitch from an alternative gas supplier. Here were some of your experiences: “The person…...

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