{"version":"1.0","provider_name":"Citizens Utility Board","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org","title":"CUB Launches Online Center To Help Chicago-Area Consumers Avoid Rip-Offs From Unregulated Natural Gas Suppliers | Citizens Utility Board","type":"rich","width":600,"height":338,"html":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"kd8eEtcMmk\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/cub-launches-online-center-help-chicago-area-consumers-avoid-rip-offs-unregulated-natural-gas-suppliers\/\">CUB Launches Online Center To Help Chicago-Area Consumers Avoid Rip-Offs From Unregulated Natural Gas Suppliers<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/cub-launches-online-center-help-chicago-area-consumers-avoid-rip-offs-unregulated-natural-gas-suppliers\/embed\/#?secret=kd8eEtcMmk\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;CUB Launches Online Center To Help Chicago-Area Consumers Avoid Rip-Offs From Unregulated Natural Gas Suppliers&#8221; &#8212; Citizens Utility Board\" data-secret=\"kd8eEtcMmk\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n\/* <![CDATA[ *\/\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/* ]]> *\/\n<\/script>\n","description":"[vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;CUB Launches Online Center To Help Chicago-Area Consumers Avoid Rip-Offs From Unregulated Natural Gas Suppliers Watchdog Sees 65% Increase in Complaints\/Questions about Suppliers&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|font_size:24|text_align:left&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243;][vc_column_text][\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Contact: Jim Chilsen, chilsen@citizensutilityboard.org, (312) 513-1784[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243;][vc_column_text]CHICAGO, February 9, 2017\u2014 Faced with a 65 percent increase in complaints and questions about unregulated natural gas suppliers this winter, the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) on Thursday launched an online help center to warn consumers about bad natural gas deals being peddled door-to-door, over the phone, or via mail. Consumers can get a free copy of \u201cCUB\u2019s Guide to Avoiding Natural Gas Rip-offs\u201d at www.CUBHelpCenter.com. The publication gives consumers tips on avoiding bad deals, an informational poster to warn neighborhoods of door-to-door rip-offs, and a chart that compares alternative supplier offers with utility rates. \u201cAll Chicago-area consumers should look at their gas bills to make sure they\u2019re not on a bad deal with an unregulated supplier,\u201d CUB Executive Director David Kolata said. \u201cWe\u2019ve seen gas customers overpay by hundreds of dollars because of bad deals\u2014and sometimes people don\u2019t even know they\u2019re with another gas supplier.\u201d From October 2016 through Feb. 8, 2017, CUB has handled 111 complaints and inquiries about alternative gas suppliers, compared with 67 in the same period last winter. Northern Illinois customers have the option of choosing a company other than the regulated utility\u2014Peoples Gas, North Shore Gas or Nicor Gas\u2014to supply them with heating gas. In the current market, it\u2019s likely that the regulated utilities offer the lowest prices. CUB warned consumers to beware of these pitfalls: High-pressure sales tactics:\u00a0Beware of people at your door who say they\u2019re from the \u201cgas company.\u201d Don\u2019t give out your account number or gas bill to just anybody who asks for it. That person may be trying to illegally sign you up for an offer without your permission. Before signing up, call CUB if you have any questions about an offer. Remember, you don\u2019t have to choose another company to supply you with gas. Low introductory rates that shoot up after a short period:\u00a0Ask if the rate is an introductory or promotional rate, and, if so, when it ends and what the new rate will be. \u00a0 Extra fees:\u00a0Ask if there is a monthly fee, and if so, factor that into the per-therm price. Punishing exit fees:\u00a0Ask if there is an exit fee if you want to leave a plan before the contract is up. Under the law, exit fees are capped at $50, and customers are allowed to leave a contract without paying a fee within 10 days after the date of the first bill. CUB is Illinois\u2019 leading nonprofit utility watchdog. Created by the Illinois Legislature, CUB opened its doors in 1984 to represent the interests of residential and small-business utility customers. Since then, it has saved consumers more than $20 billion by helping to block rate hikes and secure refunds. For more information, call CUB\u2019s Consumer Hotline, 1-800-669-5556, or visit its award-winning website, www.CitizensUtilityBoard.org.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/CUB_IL_LogoBadgeRGBAdminLogo.png","thumbnail_width":254,"thumbnail_height":254}