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.
Joel Dresang
In 2017, Joel was elected as a volunteer member of the CUB board of directors. Here is how Joel responded when asked about his commitment to CUB.
Why are you excited to be a part of CUB and serving as a CUB board member?
One of the most gratifying beats I covered as a news reporter was consumer affairs. I reveled in telling stories of unassuming citizens standing up to unfair actions by big companies or government bureaucracies. Through CUB, I get to be part of that sort of consumer advocacy.
What is the value of CUB to you, your business, your community?
With so much of my life as a consumer feeling out of my control, being a member of CUB is one way for me to gain knowledge and get active not only for the sake of me and my family but for other citizens – homeowners, renters, farmers, small business owners, entrepreneurs – affected by big utility companies.
From a big picture perspective, why is CUB important to the state of Wisconsin?
In most states, one or more government agency represents the interests of homeowners, renters and small businesses against powerful monopoly utilities. In Wisconsin, we rely on CUB, a citizen-based nonprofit. If we ratepayers don’t require our government to fight for us for reliable, affordable utility services, then we need to support the one organization that exists solely for that purpose.