Illinois has reached a grim milestone in the history of electric competition in the state: Residential consumers have now lost more than $1 billion to alternative electric suppliers since 2015, according to a new report from the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). More than 1.67 million ratepayers are signed up with…...
Energy rip-offs have hit low-income communities hard, but here’s another reason the HEAT Act gives us hope
At CUB, we get reports that customers enrolled with alternative suppliers have been charged double or triple (or worse) for their electricity—and marketers have long preyed on the neighborhoods that can least afford to pay high power bills. That’s yet another reason we’re dedicated to making sure a new reform…...
ICC orders $1 million fine against alternative energy supplier
The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) has fined alternative electricity supplier LifeEnergy, LLC, $1 million and ordered more than $34,000 in customer refunds for “admitted violations of state marketing and sales rules.” “This is a major victory for Illinois consumers, who have been ripped off by alternative energy suppliers far too…...
Last Chance: Photo Challenge (100-dollar top prize!)
Last chance to win $100! Reminder: You have until midnight, Saturday, Sept. 7 to enter CUB’s 35th Anniversary Photo Challenge. It’s super-easy to enter—and you could win $100! Just snap a photo with this CUB poster. You can include family members, like your kids or grandkids, a favorite family pet—or even an Illinois landmark. Or…...
Breaking: Electricity rip-offs more likely this summer
96-year-old Elizabeth Davis gets ripped off every time she turns on the lights. She and other customers of alternative electric suppliers have overpaid by $600 million in recent years, according to the Illinois Attorney General’s Office. That’s why I want to share this important news: State legislators just passed some of…...
Update from the State Capitol: Fighting for cleaner energy and lower utility bills
This year alone, CUB Action Network members have sent more than 7,500 messages to Springfield in favor of good legislation and against bad bills—amazing! But we know tracking all these bills can get confusing. As we enter the last week of the General Assembly’s Spring Legislative Session, here’s a summary…...
HEAT Act would protect consumers from predatory alternative suppliers
Today CUB joined Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and other consumer advocates urging the General Assembly to pass legislation to protect consumers from predatory practices and high costs from alternative energy suppliers “This legislation would right some of the wrongs in the alternative supplier industry,” said Bryan McDaniel, CUB’s Director…...
