Dear EIU Students:
City of Charleston Administration asked for our assistance in distributing this press release.
PRESS RELEASE
DATE: September 24, 2014
TYPE OF INCIDENT: Public Information Announcement
LOCATION: City of Charleston
There have been incidents in the past where solicitors have contacted Charleston residents by phone, and door to door, attempting to persuade people to switch electric suppliers. Some of the reports received in the past have led us to believe that the solicitors might be seeking out EIU students early in the fall semester. Be advised, the City Administration has worked hard to negotiate the best price for electrical service for the residence of Charleston. If a person chooses to switch suppliers they can, but problems that have been encountered by persons who have switched have prompted some of the following considerations:
• Be suspicious of anyone who comes to your door asking you to switch electric suppliers and promising to save you money.
• Be aware that they may be asking you to agree to a lengthy contract with a cancellation fee.
• Some of these solicitors seem to target students and temporary residents.
• Compare the proposed rate to that of other suppliers including the City’s contracted aggregation rate.
• They may be offering a low initial price but with no guarantee that it will not increase.
• If you agree to switch electric suppliers be sure to get a copy of the contract and review it before signing.
Any company soliciting customers to switch electrical suppliers are not affiliated with the City’s recently approved aggregation program that was voted in during the recent election.
Any company asking you to “sign-up”, or make any advance payments, is not affiliated with the City/Countywide sponsored program. The City/Countywide program will not be implemented over the phone or through door-to-door solicitation.
If you have any questions, please call the City of Charleston at 345-5650.
520 Jackson Avenue
Charleston, IL 61920
City Hall: (217) 345-5650
Daniel P. Nadler, Ph.D.
Vice President for Student Affairs and Professor
Eastern Illinois University
Old Main Building, Room 1211
Charleston IL 61920
217.581.3221 (Voice)
217.581.7676 (Fax)
nadler@eiu.edu
http://www.eiu.edu/~stuaff