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Top 3 tips to save money this summer!

Summer electric rates are going up, up, up, but never fear: CUB has you covered with the top 3 money-saving tips to reduce your electric bill over those sweltering summer months. 1.)    Keep it cool…without cranking the AC! Without a doubt, the biggest contributor to high power bills in the…...

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Cycle and save

Those hot summer days can be brutal on your electricity bills. One way to fight the summer-bill-blues is to take advantage of your utility’s energy efficiency incentives. Case in point: ComEd’s Smart Ideas® Central Air Conditioning Cycling. ComEd will credit you $5 or $10 off your monthly electric bill between June…...

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Net neutrality: Not dead yet!

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted 3-2 last week to consider a plan that could divide the Internet into a fast lane and a slow lane for the haves and have-nots.  By opening a gate for companies to pay more for privileged access, the proposed plan threatens to squash competition, water down…...

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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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New meters = new opportunities to save

CUB has been highlighting some of the worst electric deals this week with our report on the state of the Illinois electric market. But it’s not all bad news! In fact, the gradual introduction of digital electric meters has opened the door to all kinds of unique pricing plans that could…...

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A funny thing happened to IL on the way to electric competition…

CUB made headlines this week, warning consumers about bad deals in the electric market. Now, we want to hear from you through our survey on Illinois electric offers. A year ago, CUB released its first report on electric competition, praising the fact that Illinois consumers had saved up to $218…...

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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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Breaking: ComEd power price to increase 38% June 1

ComEd’s residential energy rate is set to rise 38 percent from 5.52 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) to 7.596 cents per kWh on June 1. (See ways you can soften the rate hike below.) Crain’s Chicago Business reports that the average household bill will increase about 20 percent, to $82 per month because of…...

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Pay-to-play for Internet?

Comcast, Verizon, and other telecommunications conglomerates want to make the Internet open to the highest bidder, and it’s time to say no. On May 15, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler will propose new Internet rules that could have a major impact on “net neutrality”– the idea Internet Service Providers (ISPs) cannot discriminate…...

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Time to get “real” about our power bills

One surprising fact that Illinois consumers learn at CUB events is that power prices are reasonable, well, most of the time. That’s not an easy sell to people who are sick of paying higher power bills month after month. A big part of the problem is that most of us are…...

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