Before you sign up for PG&E's SmartRate program, make sure it is right for you.

How to avoid a power shut-off this winter

TURN advises consumers to think twice about the cost of Wirepro, which have recently gone up. Inside wire rarely break. For most customers, inside wire insurance is not worth the money, especially at $5.00 per month.

Over 157 million consumers depend on the Do-Not-Call list to keep annoying telemarketers away. Those consumers can now enjoy more freedom from telemarketers than before. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which administers the list, has announced it will be extended indefinitely.

Don't be fooled by products that claim to save energy, and remember that the FTC's Cooling-Off Rule gives you three business days to cancel a contract if you sign it in your home or at a location other than the contractor's permanent place of business.