Thanks to CUB’s help, retiree Helen Conrades had a little celebration on St. Patrick’s Day—light beer over ice—and some kind words for the consumer group. “Love, love, love you,” said the Roselle woman, who was celebrating a $539 refund check she had just received from an alternative gas supplier. “My…...
The alternative supplier said what????
A former CUB co-worker relayed this bizarre, fraudulent phone pitch he received from an alternative supplier–we’ll call the company “ACME IL Electricity.” This is a good example of the kinds of reports we get every week from Illinois consumers. My notes are in red. Alternative Supplier: “I’m calling from (ACME IL…...
CUB proposal: Videotape door-to-door power pitches
Today, we issued a consumer alert urging people to sign CUB’s petition asking the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) to require electricity suppliers to videotape their door-to-door electricity pitches. Such a proposal is probably a first in the nation, and the alternative electricity suppliers (of course) are fighting it tooth and nail. This is the latest development in…...
Julie’s report: Big ICC developments against bad power marketing
Today, CUB sent out an alert from Litigation Director Julie Soderna about two big developments in the battle to clean up Illinois’ competitive electricity market. The consumer watchdog is asking everyone to send a message to the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC), urging regulators: Don’t stop now! Here’s what’s happened…. Sperian…...
At it again…
Apparently, Sperian Energy has taken the expression, “When the cat’s away, the mouse will play” to heart. After a history of concerns with Sperian Energy, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) last week launched a formal investigation of the alternative electric supplier for its allegedly deceptive and misleading marketing practices. After receiving…...
CUB launches free calculator to help you save!
The electric market just ain’t what it used to be. Proof? A recent ICC report shows that customers with ComEd, the regulated utility, saved $73.4 million more than customers with alternative electric suppliers from May 2014 to May 2015,. That’s a far cry from just two years ago, when consumers saved…...
$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…...
Now we’ve seen everything…
At CUB, we’re a pretty thrifty bunch– after all, we spend our days helping consumers shave money off their bills–but even we think this might be going a little far: Eligo Energy, an alternative electric supplier serving the Chicagoland area, is offering a Groupon for a $50 discount on electricity. We’ve heard of alternative electric suppliers mailing, phoning…...
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