Raoul calls for tough regulation of ‘deceptive’ energy suppliers

By JERRY NOWICKI, Capitol News Illinois 4/25/19

‘Almost nobody’ pays lower prices for energy purchased from alternative providers, Raoul says

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul on Tuesday called for greater regulation of alternative retail energy suppliers, many of which go door-to-door using “deceptive practices” to lock consumers into contracts that ultimately lead to higher energy costs.

At a Chicago news conference, Raoul said “almost nobody” who signs up to receive gas or electricity from alternative energy providers ends up paying less for their energy bills than consumers who stayed with their public utility.

Raoul said Illinois customers who switched to an alternative supplier paid more than $600 million more in electricity costs over the past four years. For the average consumer who switches, the added cost is between $87 and $208 each year.

“Not everybody who is a victim of their utility rates increasing as a result of being victimized by one of these suppliers realizes this, that they’re being victimized, they’re paying increased rates,” Raoul said.

He noted that high-price energy contracts “disproportionately affect” African-American and Latino communities in Chicago on the south and west sides. Senior citizens are often targeted as well, Raoul said.

Read the full article in The Chicago Crusader here.