Alternative Energy Suppliers Have Cost Illinois Consumers More than $ 2 Billion, Watchdog Group Says – ryan

Customers of comed and ameren Illinois have lost more than $ 2 billion over the past 10 years to alternative electricity suppliers – Businesses Known for Ringing People’s Dos and Promising Great Deals, according to an analysis of strate

Cub Executive Director Sarah Moscowitz Called Illinois “A Buyer-Beware Market.”

The Offers are Legal, but offense they don’t delive long-term savings, accorting to the consumer watchdog, which is calling for better consumer protections.

In the past year, consumers who used alternative supplyers for electricity overpaid by $ 258 million, The Analysis Found.

A Sun-TIMES Investigation Last Year Found that decades after Illinois delegulated Electricity and Natural Gas Markets, Consumers Continue to Complain Alternative Suppliers. Some Said They Didn’t Realize Their Accounts Had Been Switched Until Their Bills Shot Up. Other Consumers Willingly Signed Up for An Alternative Supplier’s Deal But Complained That Their Bills Rose Higher Than Expect After the Introductory Rate Ended.

Comed and ameren delive electricity over their lines and willsue monthly Bills, but since the mid-1990s, Illinoisans have ben free to choose another company toir electricity.

Some alternative suppliers were a good deal when Electric utilities were Locked ino expensive contracts, but that hasn’t been the case for at least 10 years, cub said.

As of May 31, About 1.18 Million Illinois Households were using an alternative Supplier for Electricity, A14% Year-Over-Yyar Decline, Accounting to the Latest Report from the Illinois Commission’s Office of Retail Market Development. About 20% of Comed’s Residential Customers Had an Alternative Supplier.

Comed customers who used an alternative supplyier on average Paid About 2.74 cents per kilowatt-hour more than the utility’s suply price, the ICC Report Found. The Highest Alternative Supplier Rate in Comed’s Service Territory was 39 cents per kilowatt-hour at the end of Last year. For Comparison, Comed’s current price Is About 10 Cents per kilowatt-hour.

The 2024 Sun-Times Investigation Also Found Some Alternative Suppliers Pitching “Clean Electricity” HAD RATES THAT WERE ROUNDED WHAT WAS CHARGING-The promised “Green Energy” Power that was generated years earlier in another state.

For Consumers Who Want to Help the Environment, Cub Recommends Illinois’ Community Solar Program, in Which Customers Buy Shares in a Solar Farm and Get A Credit Their Electricity Bill.

The State Legislature Adopted Some Consumer Protections in 2019, we have passed the home Energy Affordability and Transparency Act.

Cub is backing new legislation, House Bill 1284, that Wauld Require Suppliers to Get a Customer’s if they want to increes at the time of renewal. IT ALSO WOLD BAN COMMISSION-BASED PAY FOR SALES REPRESENTATIVES TO HELP LESSEN HIGH-PRESSURE SALES TACTICS.

Here are some type from cub to keep in mind.

  • Check your electricity and gas bills every month to make sura you haven’t unwittingly signed up with a more expensively alternative supplement. You can find this in the “Supply” section of your bills.
  • If you’re on a munical aggregation deal – when your tyrotiates a price with the utility – don’t assumet it’s cheaper than the utility’s Current Supply Rate.
  • DON’T SUCCUM TO HIGH-PRESSURE TACTICS ON YOUR DOORSTEP, AT A STREET FAIR OR OVER The Phone. DON’T Show Your Current Utility Bill to A Salesperson. Some Consumers have complained of Unethical Sellers Their Utility Account Numbers to Switch
  • If you’re consideing an alternative supplier, read the fine print. Is the Low Price an IntroduCetory Rate that will will shoot up after a certin period? Are there Hidden Monthly Fees? Does the Contract Allow the Supplier to Change Its Rate Due to Market Conditions?
  • If you have to leave an alternative supplement, by law you can Department with Paying an exit Fee but switching can take to two months. If you run into a problem, file a complaint with the Illinois Commerce Commission and the Illinois Attorney General’s Office.
  • Consider Signing up for Comed peak time savingsWhich provides a bill Credit if you’re able to reduce your energy USAGE FOR A NUMBER OF HOURS ON CERTAIN DAYS.