The People Of The State of Illinois, ex rel. Kwame Raoul, Attorney General of the State of Illinois, v. Direct Energy Services, LLC.
CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS
COUNTY DEPARTMENT, CHANCERY DIVISION
No. 25 CH 4091
CURRENT AND FORMER CUSTOMERS OF DIRECT ENERGY FROM 2013 TO THE PRESENT:
On April 17, 2025, Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced a $12 million settlement with Direct Energy Services LLC (Direct Energy) that resolved allegations the alternative retail electric supplier (ARES) engaged in fraudulent, unfair and deceptive business practices to mislead Illinois consumers into paying millions of dollars more for electricity than consumers who stayed with their default public utility.
The consent judgment entered by the Cook County Circuit Court provides restitution to eligible Illinois customers who received residential electricity supply services from Direct Energy between June 2013 and April 2025.
“Companies like Direct Energy must be held accountable for taking advantage of consumers with misrepresentations and false promises of lower prices,” Raoul said. “My office is committed to protecting Illinois residents from such deceptive practices and preventing people from being misled into overpaying for the energy they need.”
The Attorney General’s office filed a complaint alleging that Direct Energy violated the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act by deceptively enrolling consumers in Direct Energy services, at times charging consumers electricity rates over 230% more than they would have paid under their default public utility rate.
In addition to restitution, Attorney General Raoul’s office obtained critical injunctive relief to prevent Direct Energy from using such deceptive practices going forward. For instance, under the consent judgment, Direct Energy is required to stop marketing and enrolling customers in Illinois for 12 months. The consent judgement also includes a permanent injunction barring the ARES company from deceptive practices including:
• Enrolling consumers in Direct Energy services without their knowledge or consent.
• Failing to obtain consumers’ consent to telemarketing solicitations, as required by the Telephone Solicitations Act.
• Misrepresenting that consumers would save money.
• Misrepresenting an affiliation with the public utility or government.
• Unfairly and deceptively obtaining consumers’ account information.
• Misrepresenting a “price protection” through a state or utility “program.”
• Failing to disclose new rates and new terms.
To learn more, you may download and read the Consent Decree, the Complaint, and review the Frequently Asked Questions section provided in this website.
If you have any additional questions or concerns relating to this settlement or the cashing of your restitution check, you may reach the Settlement Administrator, Atticus Administration, at (800) 893-1707 or via email at ILDirectEnergySettlement@atticusadmin.com.