Alternative energy supplier Ambit has been accused in a new class action lawsuit of allegedly misleading consumers into more expensive energy plans, after allegedly promising them they would be locked into a "Guaranteed Savings Plan."
The lawsuit was filed March 18 in Cook County Circuit Court by named plaintiffs Gregg Bochat, of Crystal Lake, and Philip Simons, of Skokie.
The lawsuit also names as defendants Vistra Corp and Volt Asset Company.
According to the complaint, Ambit Energy, one of the nation's largest independent energy suppliers, promised its customers that their 12-month energy costs would be at least 1% less than what their existing utility provider would have charged. If not, Ambit allegedly pledged to make up the difference. However, the plaintiffs allege that starting from January 2012, Ambit purportedly amended its customer contracts to eliminate this guarantee without adequate warning, and allegedly rolled customers into more costly plans.
According to the complaint, Bochat was an Ambit customer from 2010-2015. Simons allegedly was an Ambit customer from 2009-2022. Both were allegedly switched to a more costly "variable plan" in 2012, allegedly without their knowledge or consent.
The plaintiffs seek to expand the action to include potentially tens of thousands of Ambit customers in Illinois.
They are seeking unspecified damages, plus attorney fees.
The plaintiffs are represented by attorneys J. Burkett McInturff and Nathan A. Rice, of Wittels McInturff Palikovic, of New York; Greg Blankinship, of Finkelstein Blankinship Frei-Pearson & Garber, of White Plains, New York; and Katrina Carroll, of Lynch Carpenter, of Chicago.