Citizens Utility Board (CUB) is Illinois’ leading nonprofit utility watchdog group. Created by the Illinois Legislature, CUB opened its doors in 1984 to represent the interests of residential and small-business utility customers.
Our mission is to challenge Illinois utility rate hikes, and represent Illinois utility consumer interests. We also publish consumer-friendly guides, hold hundreds of educational events each year and operate a Consumer Hotline, 1-800-669-5556.
Our Sustainability Journey as of 2023
At CUB, our sustainability journey began with the fight for lower consumer utility bills, but grew into the fight for clean energy as we realized saving money and saving the planet go hand in hand.
Energy Efficiency: Energy efficiency is at the core of our work here at CUB– our favorite saying is the cheapest and greenest kilowatt-hour is the one you don’t use. To support these goals we:
Host dozens of energy efficiency workshops with community groups and libraries across the state each year.
Produce energy efficiency guides, factsheets and blogs to help consumers learn how they can be more efficient.
Solar Power: Since 2019, CUB has partnered with the Midwestern Renewable Energy Association to hold solar group-buy programs in Illinois. In that time, the program has helped more than 280 properties go solar and educated more than 3,000 consumers about the science and benefits of solar power. Past group-buys have saved participants an average of $820 a year on their utility bills. Plus, the solar arrays installed through the program have offset about 3.7 million pounds of carbon pollution–that’s the equivalent of the yearly greenhouse gas emissions caused by about 1,300 gasoline-powered cars. We also published CUB’s Guide to Solar to explain the basics of solar energy to consumers.
Better Heat: CUB’s research team found that Chicago homeowners who switch from natural gas to a heat pump could enjoy lifetime savings ranging from $24,716 to $47,104. In total that could potentially generate between $25.3 billion and $28.9 billion in cumulative savings for Chicago residents over the next 34 years. This research is included in our Better Heat guide that helps consumers learn how they can take advantage of this affordable clean energy technology, with Chicago, statewide and Spanish versions.
Electric Vehicles: Our research team has produced five Illinois-based electric vehicle analyses. That includes how to make electrification accessible to Environmental Justice communities that need it the most and how smart-charging can transform EVs into tools for grid management that lower all electric bills–even for people who don’t own an EV. As the historic state Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) launched a historic $4,000 EV rebate in Illinois, we released our first EV Buyer’s Handbook, with down-to-earth tips for first-time electric vehicle shoppers.
CUB’s Office Sustainability: In response to COVID and in order to begin cutting costs and creating a more sustainable work ethic, CUB has moved to a remote work structure, to lessen the need for employees to commute to the office. Also, we have reduced the carbon footprint of our Outreach program by transitioning from almost all in-person events to a regimen that includes online events and carpooling to events, which cuts down on travel costs and emissions.
What’s next: In 2024, we are seeking a smaller office space to further reduce our footprint and we hope to equip our space with LED bulbs that will save money and energy. We will continue to offer clean energy group-buy programs and staff hundreds of free events a year to help educate people about energy efficiency and cleaner, cheaper ways to heat our homes.
Citizens Utility Board
309 West Washington Street
Suite 800
Chicago, Illinois 60606
Toll-free Consumer Hotline: 1-800-669-5556
