As we hold community events across the state of Illinois, people are often surprised to hear that our electric bills cover not only the power we use but the power we could use. That’s capacity. And the cost of capacity–for most customers it’s hidden in the supply charge we pay–has…...
New EDF/CUB study shows potential of real-time pricing to cut power bills
Ninety-seven percent of a sample of Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) customers would have saved money in 2016—without changing their electricity use—had they participated in a “real-time pricing” program in which power prices change hourly, according to new research released today. In a broad, first-of-its-kind study, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and the Citizens…...
How do I know if I’m with an alternative supplier?
If your electric or natural gas bill skyrockets unexpectedly, you may have inadvertently signed up with an alternative supplier. You should know where to look on your bill to determine if you’re with an alternative supplier. For more information, get CUB’s “Guide to Avoiding Electric Rip-offs” and “Guide to Avoiding…...
Tell Congress: Protect my Privacy!
Almost 143 million U.S. consumers — nearly half the country — may have had their personal data stolen when hackers targeted credit rating agency Equifax in “the most brazen failure to protect consumer data we have ever seen,” according to Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey. Members of Congress have demanded…...
Equifax data breach: What you need to know
What happened? On Sept. 7, the credit reporting agency Equifax announced that hackers had broken into its computer network, exposing the personal information of up to 143 million U.S. consumers — nearly half the country. At first Equifax reported that the hack happened between May 13 and July 29. But…...
7 tips for better cable/Internet customer service
Calling your cable/Internet company can be a nightmare: Endless menu options, long wait times, and frustrating negotiations with representatives. Before you tear out your hair, follow CUB’s tips to ensure a smooth customer service call. 1.) Advocate for yourself Cable/Internet is one of the few industries where the longer you are a…...
