Megan, Author at Citizens Utility Board

Five things to remember about your bills

Megan — Thu, 10 Oct 2019 21:08:52 +0000

In our first-ever “virtual utility bill clinic,” CUB members from 64 different cities across Illinois submitted their utility bills to get CUB’s unique utility-bill checkup service from the comfort of their own homes. CUB holds 400-500 events a year, but the virtual clinic was an attempt to reach people who can’t get to one of them. Veteran consumer advocate Aimee Gendusa-English reviewed all 89 consumer bills from readers of the CUB Voice, our quarterly newsletter, and was able to save most people money. “Many people learned how to make deep cuts in their utility bills, and I’m happy about that,” said Aimee, CUB’s Lead Service Liaison. “But I’m also happy that a lot of CUB members had been following our advice for years and had nearly perfect bills. I want to share these findings because I think it can help people spot opportunities to save on their own bills.” Here’s what Aimee found: 1. Alternative suppliers are usually a huge drain on your wallet! The average monthly savings for our virtual UBC consumers was $31.76—and for many of them, those savings would come from dumping an alternative energy supplier. This consumer paid Santanna Energy not only a bad rate (9.69 cents per kilowatt-hour [kWh] was about 40 percent above the utility’s rate at the time), but also a $9.99 monthly charge for the privilege! Read our guides to avoiding electric rip-offs, for ComEd and Ameren customers. 2. Energy efficiency DOES pay! Aimee discovered that Direct Energy charged a 79-year-old couple from Georgetown an astonishing 13.84 cents per kWh, triple Ameren’s price. They wrote of their many efforts to conserve—they keep their usage low, installed Energy Star-certified appliances, and use energy efficient light bulbs, yet saw no cost reductions! But now that they know they can ditch Direct Energy and go back to Ameren’s regulated price, they will actually see the lower bills that SHOULD come from their lowered energy consumption! Visit our Clean Energy page to see all the utility programs and discounts to help you save energy and money. 3. Demand response programs work! Many people may not know about “demand response”—but it could be good news for your electric bills. The term refers to optional programs offered by the regulated utilities that incentivize consumers to reduce their electricity usage when power prices are high (Hourly Pricing and Peak Time Savings through ComEd, and Power Smart Pricing and Peak Time Rewards through Ameren). Not only does this help the environment and electric reliability, but it also can help you save money. Hourly Pricing, for example, is saving participants roughly 15 percent on the supply side of their bills—and one man showed us the $47 Peak Time Savings credit he received on his ComEd bill. Read up on these programs and consider signing up for one. 4. Yes, you can get low rates for phone service! It can be frustrating and confusing trying to find a good price for a phone plan. We saw too many consumers paying a bloated AT&T package called “All Distance.” It starts at about $50 a month, but often is closer to $75 with various […]

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Take the home heating quiz

Megan — Wed, 09 Oct 2019 13:34:38 +0000

October is the beginning of the winter heating season (GULP!) and it’s also Energy Awareness Month. This is the perfect time to take CUB’s Home Heating Quiz and test your energy knowledge. You could win a free energy-saving kit from CUB that includes: two LED light bulbs, a smart power strip, and a Kill A Watt electricity-usage monitor, all packaged in an insulated CUB tote bag. Take the challenge. Are you a “utility bill brainiac”…a “heating season hotshot” or….”ready for a CUB clinic”? Remember, all you have to do is take the quiz and you could be randomly selected to win our top prize. (Terms and conditions)

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CUB alert: Your utility’s October gas prices

Megan — Thu, 03 Oct 2019 19:32:10 +0000

Here are the gas prices you can expect to pay this month to the regulated gas utility in your area: Nicor Gas: 29 cents per therm Ameren: 35.869 cents per therm Peoples Gas: 28.26 cents per therm North Shore Gas: 32.45 cents per therm In honor of Energy Efficiency Day yesterday, visit CUB’s Gas Page and for helpful tips such as better understanding your gas bill, utility rebates available to you, and navigating the alternative supplier market. Also check out these efficiency tips to get your home ready for winter, from top to bottom.

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New power prices for Oct. 1, 2019 to May 31, 2020

Megan — Thu, 03 Oct 2019 17:34:31 +0000

Did you know that ComEd and Ameren are charging new prices for electricity? It’s important to know what these prices are in order to make an apples-to-apples comparison with alternative electric supplier offers (called the “price to compare”). WARNING: These prices are likely your best bet—since 2015, Illinois consumers with alternative electricity suppliers have lost nearly $800 million.As of October 1: New prices, Oct. 1, 2019-May 31, 2020: ComEd’s new electricity price is: 7.224¢/kilowatt-hour (kWh) Ameren’s new electricity price is: 4.715¢/kilowatt-hour (kWh) for the first 800 kWh; 4.476¢/kilowatt-hour (kWh) for usage beyond 800 kWh Note: These utilities serve customers living in set geographic territories: ComEd covers the northern third of Illinois, roughly; and Ameren the southern two-thirds of the state. Their prices differ because the supply rates are set by different energy markets with different rules. People living in ComEd territory cannot switch to Ameren, and people living in Ameren territory cannot switch to ComEd. These prices cover the electricity itself (the supply) that you use. Supply charges take up about a half to two-thirds of your bill. ComEd and Ameren are not allowed to profit from supply charges; they simply pass along the market prices with no markup. (This restriction does not apply to alternative suppliers.) Delivery charges—fees the utilities charge you to deliver the electricity to your home—and taxes take up the rest of your bill. ComEd and Ameren are allowed to profit off of delivery charges. Those rates are set by a formula in a process overseen by the Illinois Commerce Commission. ComEd’s price includes a supply rate (5.998 cents per kWh) PLUS a transmission services charge (1.226 cents per kWh). Ameren’s price includes a supply rate (3.485 cents per kWh for the first 800 kWh; 3.246 cents per kWh for usage beyond that); a transmission charge (1.172 cents per kWh) and a Supply Cost Adjustment (0.058 cents per kWh). These rates DO NOT include the Purchased Electricity Adjustment (PEA), a per-kWh credit or debit that changes monthly. Read more about these prices and order our FREE 37-page Gas & Electric Guide to know your rights and avoid rip-offs. (Every Illinois consumer should have this publication at home.)

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Top to bottom: Is your home ready for winter?

Megan — Fri, 27 Sep 2019 15:50:03 +0000

It may not feel like winter yet, but the battle for your heating bills begins right now. Here’s a top-to-bottom checklist to get your home ready. Outside the house Repair damaged shingles. Inspect your gutters. If they’re filled with leaves, that can lead to winter damage to your home’s siding and roofing, causing cracks and letting more cool air in. Cut down any extended branches that can get tangled with wires, causing power outages. Turn outdoor faucets off. Running or leaky faucets can cause pipes to freeze and explode. Flush outside faucets before winter to remove any excess water that could freeze later. Consider buying insulated covers for outdoor faucets. The attic Insulating your attic can be the most cost-effective way to cut heating costs. Look across your attic floor. If the insulation is even with or below the attic floor joists, it’s time to add more. Seal holes in your attic. Weatherstrip and insulate the attic hatch or door to prevent warm air from escaping out the top of the house. Inside the house In the kitchen, try baking multiple dishes at once to save time on using the oven. As you cook, keep pots and pans covered with lids to reduce cooking time. The cold months are the perfect time to put your crockpot and microwave to use, as both use less energy. Keep your refrigerator and freezer filled. By keeping your fridge full, you actually help prevent warm air from entering each time the door opens and closes. If you don’t have (or don’t want) a lot of food taking up room, fill some milk jugs with water and place them in the fridge. Make sure your fireplace is inspected and cleaned before you use it in the winter. When you’re not using your fireplace, make sure the damper is closed to prevent warm air (and your heating dollars) from escaping. In the winter, run the fan clockwise (from your position, looking up at it) to pull warm air down from the ceiling and keep it circulating in your house. There should be a switch on the fan to reverse its direction. Make sure heating vents are open and not blocked by furniture or carpet. Clean dust from vents or along baseboard heaters. Windows and doors Inspect windows and doors. Repair decaying window frames, and cracked or broken glass. Install storm windows and doors. Weather-strip doors and caulk windows. A door guard or sweep can help fill the gap at the bottom of your front and back doors. You can find most of these items at local hardware stores. The basement Have a certified heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) contractor inspect your furnace. If your furnace is 15 years or older, you may want to consider upgrading to a newer system. A new filter helps your HVAC system operate at its best and last longer. You should change your filter as often as every three weeks to as little as every six months. This depends on various factors, like how often you actually use your system to what kind of unit you have. If you have […]

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Action can’t wait

Megan — Thu, 26 Sep 2019 20:08:44 +0000

A long-awaited ruling by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to reward dirty power generators and raise consumers’ power bills has been delayed until at least Nov. 29, and possibly 2020. But while the ruling may be delayed, the need to protect Illinois consumers from bloated bills is not. The General Assembly must pass the Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA) in the fall veto session to have capacity reform protections in place before next year’s capacity auction. CUB expected the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in September to revamp PJM capacity market rules in a way that would privilege dirty power generators at the expense of northern Illinois consumers. But an ethics ruling forced the one FERC Commissioner who may have sided with consumers to recuse himself, leaving FERC without a quorum to make the ruling official. Commissioner Richard Glick expected to avoid FERC cases involving his former employer Iberdrola USA (now Avangrid) for two years after his last day of employment at Avangrid, ending his recusal period in February 2018. However, this month, the Designated Agency Ethics Official (DAEO) said the recusal is actually effective two years after beginning work as a federal employee. That means he has to recuse himself from the PJM capacity case until Nov. 29, 2019. Consumer advocates pushed to protect consumers from the consequences of the FERC decision (an estimated $864 million a year in higher power bills) by passing capacity market reforms as part of the Clean Energy Jobs Act. It is likely that PJM will want to hold a capacity auction early next year (as early as May 2020). We need adequate time to implement capacity reform in Illinois—so it is vital we pass CEJA in the fall veto session in October and November of this year.

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Another Reason Illinois Must Act

Megan — Wed, 25 Sep 2019 21:28:55 +0000

Last week, President Trump reversed a 1968 decision allowing California to set more stringent car emissions standards than the federal government—a blow to the growing electric vehicle (EV) industry. Here’s why we should care about this in Illinois: 1) The latest move by the Administration just reinforces the urgency of states taking their own steps to work for a future with clean, affordable energy. That’s why in Illinois it’s vital we fight for the Clean Energy Jobs Act in the Fall Veto Session in October! 2) Because of California’s size, any setback to its clean energy policy can have national ramifications. The White House’s decision is bad for air quality of course, but it’s also bad for your bottom line: CUB’s own studies have shown that electrification can lead to lower bills even for people who don’t drive. Even some car manufacturers oppose this move to trample on a state’s authority to set its own clean energy agenda. Tell the White House: Restore California’s authority to set auto emissions standards!

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Ameren customers: Is your community power deal still saving you money?

Megan — Mon, 12 Aug 2019 16:38:05 +0000

Ameren Illinois’ power price has dropped significantly, so if you’re with a community power deal, it’s possible that the utility’s supply price is beating it. Read these frequently asked questions. What is Ameren’s power price over the next year? Ameren Illinois’ price is 4.561 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) through September, and we’re not expecting it to change much during the non-summer period, from Oct. 1 through May 31, 2020. What does this mean for my power bill? It means that it’s likely that in the current market Ameren is your best bet for electricity supply. That includes alternative suppliers that market you door-to-door, over the phone and by mail, as well as community power deals. What is a community power deal? Community power deals, also called municipal aggregation, are when your local leaders negotiate with an alternative supplier to secure the lowest price possible for their residents. The idea behind municipal aggregation is that local leaders can use the collective buying power of a community’s residents to negotiate a good price. CUB thinks municipal aggregation has worked very well for Illinois consumers. In fact, it’s been a bright spot in the Illinois competitive market. But since Ameren Illinois’ supply rate has fallen, the utility’s price is beating the vast majority of community power deals. The good news is your municipality had the foresight to negotiate a contract that allowed you to exit with no termination fee. Are all communities on a power deal? No, but to see if your community is, you can check this website managed by the state. Just search for your community and see the basic details of the deal, including what rate you’re paying. The way municipal aggregation works is that all residents are signed up for the alternative supplier rate—unless you opt out of the program. How do I know what rate I’m paying? You can check this website managed by the state. You can also look on the supply section of your Ameren Illinois bill. NOTE: Remember, even if you’re on a community power deal, you will still get an Ameren bill. Ameren Illinois owns all the power lines, so it will still charge you to deliver electricity to your home. But if you’re on a community power deal, the supply section of your Ameren bill will list the alternative supplier and the rate you’re paying. How do I get out of a community power deal? If you’re on a community power deal, the supply section of your Ameren Illinois bill will list the alternative supplier and its phone number. You can call that number to cancel. It may take up to two months to exit the offer. If you can’t find the company’s contact information, or you have any other questions, you can call the city or village hall. Even if you’re not with a community power deal, an alternative supplier may have signed you up for an individual offer, through a door-to-door, telemarketing or mailed pitch. Illinois consumers have lost nearly $800 million to alternative electric suppliers since 2015, so beware of rip-offs. In this market, Ameren Illinois is likely your best bet. […]

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More than 100 million consumers hit by Capital One hack

Megan — Thu, 01 Aug 2019 15:07:50 +0000

Yet another data breach has exposed the private data of more than one hundred million people, leaving them vulnerable to fraud. Credit card company Capital One went public on Monday with news that 106 million individuals had their data compromised, mostly from credit card applications between 2005 and early 2019. The stolen information includes names, dates of birth, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and self-reported income. Credit card holders had additional information stolen, such as credit scores, credit limits, balances, payment history, contact information and some transaction data. Also stolen were about 140,000 Social Security numbers, 80,000 linked bank account numbers of secured credit card holders, as well as the Social Insurance Numbers of about one million Canadians. It is the largest bank hack ever, said consumer watchdog group U.S. PIRG, and it comes just a week after credit reporting agency Equifax agreed to a settlement regarding its own security breach in 2017. Capital One has said that it will notify customers affected by the hack, but it is unclear if it has begun to do so. Unlike Equifax, Capital One doesn’t have an online tool to let you check for yourself if your data was compromised. There have been so many data breaches at so many different kinds of companies—including Marriott, Target, Home Depot, even the IRS—that security experts recommend you should just assume that scammers already have your data. Here are some steps you can take to protect yourself from scams, frauds, and identity theft: Check your credit report for suspicious activity. Every US consumer can get a free copy of their credit report every year from each of the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Look it over to make sure no credit cards, loans or other accounts have been opened in your name. Also take a good look at the statements from your bank credit cards to find any unauthorized charges. Consider credit monitoring services. Even if your accounts seem untouched, don’t assume they’ll stay that way. Sometimes criminals will sit on stolen information for months or years before using it. This is where credit monitoring can help. These services will alert you if any unusual activity crops up on your credit report. Some, like Credit Karma, are free, and others, like LifeLock, are paid services. While both Equifax and Capital One have offered free credit monitoring to consumers affected by their data breaches, it’s unclear when those services will start. Set up two-factor authentication. Two-factor authentication is a two-step process that adds a layer of security to your online accounts. Typically, each time you log in the website will text or call you with a one-time code you have to enter in addition to your usual login and password. Unless the hacker also has your cell phone, they won’t have the code and can’t access your account. Change your passwords. Yes, again. In fact, change them frequently, make them strong (“password” and “123456” are NOT strong!), and don’t reuse them. That’s a lot of unique passwords to remember, so a password manager like LastPass or LogMeOnce can help you keep track of them […]

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Robocall legislation nearing the finish line

Megan — Fri, 26 Jul 2019 16:44:19 +0000

Big thanks to thousands of members of the CUB Action Network who have sent messages urging their elected officials to take action against robocalls. The House of Representatives on July 24 overwhelmingly passed (429-3) the Stopping Bad Robocalls Act to crack down on robocall scams. That action followed the Senate’s passing of an anti-robocalls bill, the TRACED Act, 97-1, in May. Now, the House and the Senate have to reconcile both bills, and send a measure to President Trump. Be prepared to take action in the fall to get the strongest possible consumer protections past the finish line. CUB has said that this is one of the biggest consumer issues of 2019. “Illinois consumers—and CUB staffers—are exasperated by bothersome robocalls,” CUB Executive Director David Kolata said in January, when the watchdog group released its first-ever guide to help consumers combat robocalls. YouMail, the telecom services firm, estimates there have been 29 billion robocalls so far this year. That works out to nearly 90 calls per person in the U.S., YouMail CEO Alex Quilici told Consumer Reports. Call-blocking service Truecaller estimates that phone scams bilked consumers out of $10.5 billion in 2018. Hopefully, Washington is now making a serious move to deal with this problem. “This bill would go a long way toward protecting people from the daily harassment of unwanted robocalls,” said Maureen Mahoney, policy analyst for Consumer Reports. “We now look forward to seeing the strongest possible bill enacted into law.” Highlights of the bipartisan Stopping Bad Robocalls Act: Phone carriers would be required to give their customers free robocall-blocking and call-authentication services. (Call-authentication technology would help stop “spoofed” robocalls, when scammers use your area code or prefix to try to trick you into thinking somebody local is calling.) The House bill proposes extending the statute of limitations for the enforcement of intentional robocalling violations to four years. (The Senate’s TRACED Act proposes extending it to three.) The Federal Communications Commission would be required to submit annual reports to Congress on its enforcement actions against illegal robocalls. It also would be required to create and maintain a database of disconnected or reassigned numbers. Robocallers would have to check that database to make sure the numbers they use haven’t been disconnected or reassigned.

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