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.
June 17, 2011: Governor Walker Should Veto Focus on Energy Cuts
Posted: June 17, 2011 by Leah Steinberg
For Immediate Release: June 17, 2011
Governor Walker Should Veto Focus on Energy Cuts
In early May, the Joint Finance Committee voted to significantly cut funding for Focus on Energy, the successful statewide energy efficiency and renewable energy program. This cut promises to result in higher energy bills, fewer jobs and more pollution in Wisconsin; with the budget having just reached his desk, Gov. Walker should veto this cut.
Focus on Energy was created in 2001 to help homeowners and businesses reduce energy costs through energy efficiency and renewable energy. Over 2 million Wisconsin residents and businesses have participated in the program since its inception, saving a total of $2 billion on their energy bills. For every $1 invested in the program, Wisconsin homeowners and businesses have saved $2.50.
The program does much more than reduce bills for participating businesses and homeowners, though. Focus on Energy helps keep energy bills affordable for all Wisconsinites by reducing energy use and preventing the need to build expensive new power plants and transmission lines that we all pay for with increased electricity bills.
In addition, Focus on Energy helps reduce the amount of money we spend to fuel our power plants. Wisconsin currently spends $17 billion on dirty, out-of-state fossil fuels every year. Much of that money is spent on coal and natural gas to generate electricity. Investing in energy efficiency is the No. 1 way we can reduce that amount and keep money flowing within our own economy.
Beyond helping to keep energy bills affordable, Focus on Energy boosts Wisconsin’s economy by creating jobs. Since its inception in 2001, the program has created thousands of jobs for electricians, plumbers, heating and cooling contractors, and similar professions. The funding cut from the program by the Joint Finance Committee was expected to create an additional 7,000 to 9,000 jobs.
Recognizing the immense economic value of Focus on Energy, nearly 100 businesses sent a letter to the Joint Finance Committee in May urging legislators not to cut funding for the program.
“[Focus on Energy] has added thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in additional business, delivered millions in energy savings in a cost-effective manner, and helped make Wisconsin more energy independent,” reads the letter. “With a proven track record of delivering cost-effective energy savings and driving local business, Focus on Energy should be allowed to grow.”
Unfortunately, the Committee voted along party lines to cut funding for the program, against the advice of Wisconsin business owners.
Gov. Walker recently demonstrated he understands the many benefits of energy efficiency when he committed $100 million to make state buildings more energy efficient. Such an increase will help the state government save money by reducing energy bills.
Gov. Walker should now make sure that Wisconsin homeowners and businesses have the same opportunity as state government to save money and create jobs by vetoing the Joint Finance Committee’s shortsighted cuts to Focus on Energy.
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Category: Press Releases Tags: government