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U.S. Energy Savings Corp. Agrees to Illinois Refunds

State cracks down on false promises of big savings

May 18, 2009

“My office has received a nearly unprecedented number of calls from consumers who were deceived by false assurances that they would receive significant savings by switching to this alternative gas supplier,” Madigan said. “This agreement will help to protect Illinois consumers and ensure that this company provides full, upfront disclosures about its products’ terms and conditions so that consumers can make informed decisions.”

Ann of Chicago told ConsumerAffairs.com in January that she had signed a U.S. Energy Savings contract because she thought the salespeople were with Peoples Gas. "Afraid I was scammed by signing a paper about keeping my gas bill low today," she said.

In neighboring Indiana, Carter of Valparaiso had a similar experience.

"In June 2008, when natural gas prices spiked very high, I was visited by a high-pressure sales team from U.S. Energy Savings Corp. and signed a 5 year fixed-price natural gas contract," he said. "The economic consequences have been terrible. Like many consumers who have gotten scammed by these energy contracts, my energy bills this year skyrocketed, while the price of natural gas plummeted to now less than half of the $1.09 per therm I am paying."

"Based on my careful calculations, I have paid $400-500 more for gas just in the past four months because of this contract, despite keeping my thermostat ridiculously low (low 60s in daytime, 56 at night)," he said.

Madigan’s lawsuit alleged that Illinois Energy Savings Corp., which does business as U.S. Energy Savings Corp., sold its “Natural Gas Fixed Price Program” to the participants of Northern Illinois Gas Company’s (Nicor) Customer Select and Peoples Energy Choices for YouSM programs with deceptive claims that the fixed-rate program would offer significant savings by locking consumers into a consistent gas price before rates spiked.

As part of this sales pitch, however, the company’s door-to-door sales representatives failed to disclose that the fixed gas price was actually higher than prices historically offered by regulated utility suppliers such as Nicor. According to Madigan’s complaint, consumers were led to believe that they would automatically save money by enrolling in the U.S. Energy Savings’ program.

The Attorney General’s lawsuit further alleged that U.S. Energy Savings’ sales representatives violated the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act by failing to disclose the existence of an early termination fee, failing to properly identify themselves as representatives of an alternative natural gas company and failing to obtain consent from the account holder to switch gas suppliers from the regulated utility to an alternative supplier. U.S. Energy Savings denied the allegations in the lawsuit.

The agreement requires U.S. Energy Savings to make $1 million available to pay as restitution to Illinois consumers. Eligible consumers will receive notice of the settlement within 30 days and must submit claim forms to U.S. Energy Savings by Aug.12, 2009. Also as part of the agreement, U.S. Energy Savings must allow current eligible customers to cancel contracts without paying an early termination fee.

In addition, the agreement prohibits U.S. Energy Savings from using deceptive or unfair practices during the course of soliciting customers for natural gas supply contracts. Under the agreement, during solicitation, in any print materials, on its Web site and in its Welcome Letter for new customers, the company must make clear and conspicuous disclosures regarding: the type of product that consumers will receive, the price for service, terms and conditions of service, and the existence of any early termination fee.

U.S. Energy Savings also must clearly disclose that consumers will be leaving their regulated utility company to enroll with the reseller of natural gas. The agreement also places a $50 cap on the amount that U.S. Energy Savings can charge customers for early termination. Finally, the agreement requires U.S. Energy Savings to investigate and terminate sales representatives who mislead consumers, provide false information during solicitations and forge contracts or agreements.

Since 2005, the Attorney General has filed four lawsuits against alternative gas suppliers, and earlier this year, she drafted and negotiated pro-consumer legislation to regulate the alternative suppliers. The legislation, which was drafted by the Attorney General’s office and sponsored by Rep. Thomas Holbrook (D-Belleville), Rep. Marlow Colvin (D-Chicago) and Sen. Don Harmon (D-Oak Park), was enacted in April 2009 and requires stricter disclosure practices and limits termination fees.

Specifically, the new law:

• Requires all sales solicitations to clearly disclose the prices, terms and conditions of all products and services;

• Prohibits suppliers from misrepresenting their affiliation with a gas utility, governmental body or consumer group;

• Provides consumers with a right to cancel within 10 days after the gas utility notifies them of the switch and 10 days after the date of the first bill if they find that the service is not as promised;

• Limits early termination fees to $50 and requires any agreement containing an early termination clause to disclose the total cancellation fee.

Illinois consumers who would like more information about today’s agreement or the new law should contact Madigan’s Consumer Fraud Bureau at (800) 386-5438.

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