This summer, my smartphone and I celebrated our two-year anniversary. We didn’t do anything fancy to celebrate—just sent a few text messages and watched a video on YouTube. To me, it’s still the same handheld device that took my breath away in the Verizon store two years ago, but lately…...
How do Illinois consumers feel about smart meters?
As ComEd and Ameren begin the enormous task of installing nearly 5 million digital smart meters across the state over the next decade, we polled more than 1,000 weekly e-newsletter subscribers to get their thoughts on the new technology. We also invited consumers to submit their comments and questions about digital smart meters. Find…...
CUB hits the highway to help consumers save
CUB’s outreach department is no stranger to Illinois highways, logging thousands of miles every year up and down I-55, I-57, I-80 and everywhere in between to spread the word about saving money on utility bills. Headed by Outreach Director Sarah Moskowitz, the department is made up of Environmental Outreach Coordinator…...
The quest for a smarter power grid begins today
Today, Illinois’ biggest electric utility will begin installing digital “smart meters” in Chicago’s western suburbs, launching an ambitious plan to give 4 million customers new meters by 2021. These new meters, built in a plant on the city’s South side, are a symbol of high-tech upgrades, collectively called the “smart grid,”…...
Big winners in CUB Energy Saver/Presence Health competition
Maria Cossiocazares and her employer, Presence Holy Family Medical Center of Des Plaines, were big winners in a CUB Energy Saver contest involving 10 Presence Health hospitals. Presence Holy Family Medical Center beat out nine other hospitals in a competition to see which could recruit the most people to use…...
Tele-frustrating! Illinois tops nation in telemarketing complaints
A decade after the federal government created the Do Not Call list to combat telemarketing calls, Illinois has the nation’s worst complaint rate for people who are on the list but still get annoying phone pitches, USA Today reports. Tuesday’s report was just the latest development this week in Illinois’…...
