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.…...
In 2014, CUB is fighting more than half-a-billion dollars in rate-hike battles from ComEd, Ameren, Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas (see the chart below). In response, we’ve established an emergency Consumer Defense Fund and we have a challenge for you: Help us raise $50,000 by April 30th to cover…...
CUB has received a six-fold increase in complaints about unregulated natural gas suppliers in 2014. With the ugly winter weather and utility rate increases, the time is ripe for rip-offs. Because of this, we’ve issued a consumer alert that includes the five questions you need to ask when considering an offer from…...
Winter may be over, but the pain of the polar vortex may soon show up on your energy bill. Alternative power supplier FirstEnergy intends to bill customers a one-time June surcharge to recover unexpectedly high costs incurred during the polar vortex, Crain’s Chicago Business reported. Ninety-eight of the 180 communities…...
Years ago, CUB called Chicago Sun-Times cartoonist Cliff Wirth to ask permission to use one of his cartoons for The CUB Voice, our quarterly newsletter. Cliff called back to say: “I’m on your side!” Ever since, the now-retired cartoonist has been supplying his works for our newsletter–even after a move…...
The City of Chicago recently negotiated a new rate with Integrys Energy to fulfill the last 12 months of a 28-month municipal aggregation deal. The bad news for consumers: rates are going up. The less-bad news: rates are going up across the board for electricity in June, regardless of your supplier–and most…...
Residents in 82 communities or counties have voted on whether they want local leaders to negotiate their power prices with ComEd or Ameren competitors. Here’s an example of the referendum: Shall the (Name of county/municipality) have the authority to arrange for the supply of electricity for its residential and small…...
On Tuesday residents in some 80 communities or counties will vote on whether they want local leaders to negotiate their power prices with ComEd or Ameren competitors. (See this great chart the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) put together.) The referendum will look something like this: Shall the (Name of county/municipality)…...
We asked Tuesday what you thought of Comcast’s $45.2 billion plan to buy out Time Warner Cable, which would mark the acquisition of the second largest cable/Internet company by the first largest. The results are pretty conclusive: survey respondents do not think the merger will be good for consumers– at…...
