(800) 669-5556

Blog

Making headlines: The fight against AT&T’s plan to end traditional home phone service

Check out the great coverage we garnered for the “Save Our Service” (SOS) Campaign against AT&T’s plan to end traditional home phone service. And, if you haven’t already, please make sure to send a message to your state legislators asking them to say NO to AT&T:     NBC 5, Chicago…...

Read more

IL watchdogs sound the alarm on AT&T’s plan to eliminate landlines

Have you seen the headlines? This week, Illinois top consumer advocates held news conferences in seven cities across the state to fight bad legislation from AT&T. The company, which made $13 billion in profits in 2016, wants to end traditional home phone service (landlines) in its service territory—but consumer advocates…...

Read more

AARP, IL PIRG, CUB Launch Save Our Service (SOS) Campaign

Today, AARP, the Illinois Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) and CUB joined forces to launch the Save Our Service (SOS) campaign to block AT&T-backed legislation that would hang up on Illinois’ most vulnerable phone customers. Consumer advocates urged Illinoisans to visit SaveOurPhoneService.com to send messages to the General Assembly against AT&T’s deregulation…...

Read more

Tell legislators: Vote YES on HB 3503

Big Internet providers like AT&T and Comcast are allowed to charge you up to $10 a month to rent equipment like modems and routers, even after you’ve paid enough for the retail price of the equipment. Telecom companies provide no good reason for asking for the monthly fee indefinitely, other…...

Read more

BREAKING: ComEd has filed for a $96 million rate hike

“A rate hike is never good news for consumers,” CUB Executive Director David Kolata said. “CUB will conduct a detailed review of ComEd’s $96 million rate-hike request, and we will challenge every penny the company can’t justify.” Help us fight the hike! Send a message to state regulators against ComEd’s…...

Read more

My summer EE checklist (grandpa would be proud)

By Scott Allen, CUB Environmental Outreach Coordinator (Hillsboro) As the weather turns warm, it’s time to get your home ready for summer. And that reminds me of the jobs I used to do for my grandpa, when I was a kid in Griggsville, Illinois, population 1,200. Over time, Grandpa Jerry, a…...

Read more

Money-saving programs worth bragging about

Thanks to efficiency programs offered by Illinois’ major utilities, saving energy—and money— is easier than ever before. CUB chose seven of its favorite energy efficiency programs from across Illinois. (See them below in no particular order.) Lighting Discounts Under ComEd’s Energy Efficiency program, you can receive instant in-store discounts on select ENERGY STAR…...

Read more

Sign CUB’s Pledge: Defend Efficiency

In the past, we’ve alerted you about White House budget plans that would eliminate strong energy efficiency programs like Energy Star, which since its beginning in 1992 has saved residential and business customers more than $360 billion dollars on their utility bills. That’s why this Earth Month (April), it’s so…...

Read more

Free CUB clinic to analyze electric, gas, phone bills in Chicago, show how to cut costs by hundreds of dollars a year

The Citizens Utility Board (CUB) will analyze utility bills at a free clinic to help Chicago residents save potentially hundreds of dollars a year. Consumers should bring their gas, electric and phone bills for a free, one-on-one consultation with a CUB expert, who will search for ways to lower their…...

Read more

Is this electric pitch legit? CUB breaks it down

Members of CUB’s consumer advocacy department (CAD) take thousands of inquiries each year, so  they’ve heard all about the crazy pitches consumers receive from alternative electric suppliers. Last week, Sandra Marcelin-Reme—a veteran of the department—shared one consumer complaint that shows the type of trickery consumers are up against. Take a look at the…...

Read more