Aggressive electric solicitations reported in Big Rock Twp.

Local officials in Big Rock Township are reporting that many residents have recently experienced aggressive solicitations from electric suppliers, both over the phone and at the door.

The Kane County Division of Environmental & Water Resources would like to remind residents and small businesses in the unincorporated area of Kane County that these reported solicitations are NOT associated with the Kane County electric aggregation program. No representatives from Kane County or Dynegy Energy Services, the County's contracted supplier under program, will solicit customers over the phone or in person.

Residents should also be aware that Kane County or Dynegy Energy Services will never ask residents for their ComEd account number, and residents should never give their ComEd account number to any solicitor. In these recently reported incidences, solicitors have been leaving a phone number of (630) 405-1811, ext. 87, and requesting a return call.

The Illinois Electric Service Customer Choice and Rate Relief Law of 1997 restructured the state's electric service industry to allow for customer choice of electric suppliers. If Kane County residents are interested in changing their electric supplier, it is recommended that they carefully read the fine print of any supplier contract they may be considering to avoid an agreement offering variable or floating rates, a monthly fee in addition to the fixed rate, enrollment or early termination fees, or automatic renewal provisions. For more information about electric suppliers, visit pluginillinois.org.

The Illinois Attorney General's Office recommends that residents register their home and cellular phone numbers on the nationwide Do Not Call Registry in order to reduce the amount of unwanted telemarketing calls received. The Attorney General's Office enforces the rules of the registry to make sure that businesses follow the law and consumers do not become victims of fraud. To register, visit donotcall.gov/register/reg.aspx or call (888) 382-1222.

To avoid door-to-door solicitations from electric providers, please put a "No Solicitors" sign by your front door. If you have a sign posted and the solicitor persists, you may call the non-emergency number for the Kane County Sheriff, (630) 232-6840.