Shopping for Internet in Chicago can feel like a game of Monopoly: Few options, limited competition, and high prices. Fortunately, Google, Inc. may introduce Google Fiber—the company’s high-speed, high-tech Internet service—to Chicago. Finally, we’d have a little competition! The company announced in December 2015 that it was eyeing up the Windy…...
Breaking: ‘Slam dunk’ for electric customers at the Supreme Court
It’s never easy taking on big energy companies, but then there are days like this. Today, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down a ruling in support of an important efficiency program called Demand Response. Read CUB’s statement. Demand Response is any program in which power grid operators pay electricity users to…...
Beware bad gas deals
With federal predictions that we could pay the lowest winter heating bills in more than a decade, be careful to avoid bad gas deals peddled by alternative suppliers. For roughly 15 years, Northern Illinois consumers have been able to choose another company to supply their natural gas–other than the regulated utilities, North…...
EIA: ‘U.S. households will pay the lowest…gas bills this winter in more than a decade’
Aside from this week’s brutal cold, warmer-than-normal winter weather is a big reason natural gas prices have plunged. Over the last four months, average prices for the major utilities have dropped by as much as 49 percent. “U.S. households will pay the lowest heating oil and natural gas bills this winter in…...
Sign the petition to FERC: Refunds now!
Federal regulators recently ordered changes to a yearly electricity auction that last summer sparked a 30 percent increase in power prices in Central and Southern Illinois. Now, it’s time to demand your money back for the egregious prices! Every year, the power grid operator in Central and Southern Illinois and 14 other…...
New ComEd rates are in!
Just a few weeks ago, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) approved a $67 million delivery rate decrease for ComEd customers—hopefully a sign that we’re starting to benefit from improvements to the power grid. Now, we officially know ComEd’s rates— reflecting the $67 million decrease—as of Jan. 1 Check out what you’ll…...
A victory in the battle for a better power market in Central, Southern IL
As Illinoisans prepared for New Year’s Eve revelry, federal regulators handed down an order that we hope will help avoid a repeat of the 30 percent power price spike that hit the Central and Southern parts of the state last summer. On Dec. 31, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) ordered key…...
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…...
Security for your smartphone
What is your smartphone worth? How about the personal data your smartphone houses—including personal account numbers, birthdate, and passwords? The answer is probably, “A lot.” That’s why it’s essential to protect your smart device from theft and data breaches. Follow these tips to ensure your phone and data don’t end up…...
