You have a business to run. It is hard to stay on top of things locally let alone at the Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC) where your electric rates are set. That’s where the Citizens Utility Board of Wisconsin comes in. We advocate for all small utility customers from individual citizens to small businesses and farmers for fair, safe and reliable utility service. We monitor the changing energy world and put the utility customer first.
CUB small business members benefit from our team of legislative, utility and communications experts who advocate tirelessly for your business at the Public Service Commission, the state Capitol, in the courts, and at regulatory agencies.
Small Business Membership Benefits:
Advocacy: CUB business membership keeps you up-to-date on issues that matter to you.
- Monthly electronic newsletters highlighting key cases before the PSC, issues before the Legislature, and information to help you control energy costs.
- Action Alerts keep you notified and enable you to get involved, when important decisions are up for hearing/vote.
- CUB works as Your Independent Consumer Voice at the table for small business interests when the PSC sets rates and energy policy.
Empowerment: CUB will help you take action and share your thoughts with Wisconsin government officials.
- Confused by your bill? We can explain it.
- Problem with your utility service and pricing? We will answer questions and help you work with your utility.
- Who makes these decisions anyway? We will show your staff how to interact with the PSC and legislators
Access: CUB can help your organization and employees save resources and money.
- Host a “utility bill clinic” about ways to help residents and businesses save money on their utility bills.
- Promote your support of fair, safe and reliable utility rates with the CUB small business member badge.
Outreach: CUB will help small business members partner with other members and like-minded organizations to bring these issues to the public. CUB staff can answer questions about energy related matters as well as provide free one-on-one utility bill consultations.
Partnership Opportunities: CUB partners with community groups interested in learning about utility issues. We provide presentations on how to understand your utility bills, how the PSC works and how you can get involved. Plus, we can provide information on energy costs you can control. Let us know what you’re interested in, and we’ll do our best to accommodate you.
December 15, 2010: Energy Efficiency Saves Money for Ratepayers
Posted: December 15, 2010 by Leah Steinberg
For Immediate Release: December 15, 2010
Energy Efficiency Saves Money for Ratepayers
MADISON — The Citizens Utility Board applauds Tuesday’s approval by the Committee on Joint Finance of the proposal by the Public Service Commission to increase investments in energy efficiency for 2011 through 2014.
The Committee on Joint Finance approved budgets for Focus on Energy, Wisconsin’s statewide energy efficiency program, of $120 million in 2011, $160 million in 2012, $204 million in 2013, and $256,000 million in 2014. The 2010 budget for Focus is $83 million.
Making our homes and businesses more energy efficient is the best strategy to help consumers reduce their energy bills, especially since rates for electricity and heating fuels will likely continue increasing for the foreseeable future.
Even though investments in energy efficiency can cause short-term rate increases, these investments are cost-effective: Over time, they save more money than they cost. Focus on Energy has provided more than $1.7 billion in energy savings above and beyond the costs of the program since it began in 2001.
Third-party studies have consistently shown that investments in energy efficiency by Focus on Energy are cost-effective: Focus on Energy saves $2.50 for every dollar invested in the program. This is a program that makes money. For example, investing $100 in energy efficiency through Focus on Energy will save $250. Investing $500 will save $1,250.
The reason why energy efficiency saves money is that investments in energy efficiency are much less expensive than comparable investments in new power plants, or to pay for the fossil fuels that are burned in most of them. Energy efficiency is also less expensive than buying heating fuel.
“Conservation is the only way households and businesses can lower their energy bills.” said Charlie Higley, executive director of CUB. “Additional investments in Focus on Energy will save Wisconsin consumers billions of dollars in energy costs, rather than spending the money on out-of-state fossil fuels.”
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Category: Press Releases Tags: government