Well that didn’t take long. The fight may have been won, but the battle for net neutrality is far from over. The historic net neutrality standards set by Federal Communications Commission (FCC) aren’t even a month old and one big company (Time Warner) has already been accused of violating them. It’s clear we…...
Still fighting the battle for net neutrality
The ink is barely dry on the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) net neutrality rules, and already we could have our first violator. Commercial Network Services (CNS) has filed a formal complaint to the FCC that Time Warner Cable (TWC) is violating the “no paid prioritization” and “no throttling” aspects of the net…...
Call in Day: Tell FERC to Investigate Price Hike in Central/Southern Illinois
Central and Southern Illinois residents witnessed a huge jump in electricity prices this summer following an electric auction that gave power generators like Dynegy a windfall. We are calling on FERC to investigate the price spike to weed out any problems connected to how electricity prices are set in Illinois. The agency…...
$310,800 refund for Nordic Energy customers
Nordic Energy customers have something to celebrate. Together, the staff of the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC), Attorney General Lisa Madigan and CUB negotiated a $310,800 settlement with the alternative electric supplier to resolve complaints that the company engaged in misleading marketing and unfair sales practices. The settlement requires Nordic to…...
Good riddance to obnoxious exit fees
In the General Assembly’s spring session, CUB championed the only major energy legislation to get passed—a bill that says sayonara to bad fees. State lawmakers unanimously approved a bill (HB 3766) that would cap exit fees charged by alternative power suppliers. Residential and small-business customers get slapped with these fees when…...
Exit fee freedom!
Realtor Mark Zipperer enrolled with Liberty Power as the electricity supplier for his office. When he found a better deal, he cancelled his contract. What should have been a smooth process ended up a nightmare. Zipperer was slapped with a $900 exit fee for leaving the contract early. Fortunately, Zipperer thought to contact CUB.…...
ICC approves Wisconsin Energy merger
The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) voted 4-1 to approve a $5.7 billion merger between Wisconsin Energy and Integrys Energy Group, Peoples Gas’ parent company. CUB had hoped to see the ICC attach stronger pro-consumer conditions to the merger—especially in light of a Peoples Gas pipeline replacement program that is costing consumers…...
CUB across Illinois!
Scott Allen, the environmental outreach coordinator in CUB’s Hillsboro office, travels hundreds of miles a week to deliver advice on utility bills, partner with neighborhood organizations, and promote energy efficiency across the state. It “gets a little hectic sometimes,” but Scott says he wouldn’t have it any other way. “I…...
CUB helps granddaughter secure $1,286 refund for grandmother
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…...
