We received a call recently from a consumer ecstatic over the savings she discovered after speaking with one of our staffers at a utility bill clinic in Elmhurst. Theresia, of Wood Dale, learned how to shave $53.10 per month off her bills, thanks to guidance from CUB Environmental Outreach Coordinator Laura Goldberg.…...
CUB to FERC: What’s behind the January energy price spike?
Energy prices skyrocketed in January, and CUB suspects the reason might be more than just the record-breaking cold. Recently, we joined with consumer advocates from 10 other states in a letter urging the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to examine the root causes behind the price spike. “No doubt, January’s ‘polar…...
Punched by the “polar vortex”? A shopper’s guide to home thermostats
This week’s weather may not have the “polar vortex” edge of early January, but it’s not exactly tropical. Temperatures in the single digits tend to get people thinking about how to save money on electric and gas bills. Finding the right thermostat plays a crucial role in regulating your heat—and…...
T-Mobile offers new phone payment plan
John Legere is at it again. The quirky T-Mobile CEO, who likes to call his own industry “stupid, broken, and arrogant,” has introduced yet another promotion that we hope takes the wireless industry at least a baby step closer to its customers. On the heels of his new “Jump” plan, allowing customers to upgrade…...
Hanover Park utility bill clinic: $132 per year in customer savings
CUB’s outreach team is always on the road, visiting cities, towns and villages across Illinois to hold clinics that show consumers how to save money on their utility bills. This week was no different–CUB staffers Laura Goldberg, Ivonne Hernandez and Yami Newell took to Hanover Park and showed consumers how…...
What’s the best “energy song” of all time?
[youtube=https://youtu.be/vtPk5IUbdH0] Ever hum “Electric Avenue” when you pay your power bill? Find yourself singing “The Power of Love” while programming your thermostat? Maybe the “Electric Slide” isn’t just reserved for wedding receptions, it’s what you do on the way to turn off a light bulb. If so, we’ve got a contest…...
Nicor customer refunds beginning this month
This month, Nicor Gas will begin issuing $72 million in refunds ordered by the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) following a 10-year legal battle waged by CUB and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office. Nicor says the average homeowner will receive a total of about $30 paid out over the next 12…...
