The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is set to vote tomorrow on whether or not to re-classify the Internet as a public utility, which can be protected and regulated through federal authority. Why does this matter to you, oh-average-unassuming-consumer? Because this decision is a game changer for net neutrality. Net neutrality…...
Quiz Time!
Did you know that simple actions could save you big bucks on your utility bills? That’s right: Switching to energy-efficient light bulbs, unplugging unused appliances, and using a programmable thermostat could potentially save you hundreds per year on your energy bill! Take CUB’s quiz and see just how much your household…...
Record-breaking temperature sweep through Chicago region
This morning, Chicagoans awoke to frigid Arctic air that crushed a 79-year-old record. Wind chills accompanied by 20 mph gusts make the temperature feel as cold and biting as 30 degrees below zero, according to a wind chill advisory issued by the National Weather Service. The temperature at O’Hare Airport…...
Keeping up with $1.6 billion in Illinois rate-hike battles
Consumer wallets took a big hit in January, with four utility rate increases–and a new $53 million natural gas rate-hike request. On Jan. 1, ComEd and Ameren were awarded a combined electric rate increase of $436 million (about $232 million for ComEd and $204 for Ameren). CUB filed a “petition for…...
Our Valentine to AT&T: Have a heart, don’t kill our landlines
Thank you to the 1,600+ people who signed CUB’s Valentine to AT&T. Our hearts ache alright–not for AT&T, but for the millions of Illinoisans who depend on traditional home phone service as their most reliable and affordable telecom option. AT&T has stated clearly that it wants to end their phone…...
“Now is the time for Time-of-Use pricing”
Today, CUB and the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) urged ComEd and Ameren to offer optional “Time-of-Use” pricing plans in Illinois. Such plans would reward energy-efficient customers for shifting electricity use away from “peak” hours–when demand is high, prices skyrocket, and power plants produce the most pollution. These plans would not only save individual…...
Comcast at it again?
Just when you think it can’t get any worse, news emerged this week of yet another Comcast customer service fiasco. Mary Bauer opened her bill last month to discover her bill had been addressed to “Super B***h Bauer.” The Addison resident had previously spent nearly a year going back and forth with…...
