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.
Donate
Support CUB and Ensure Your Voice is Heard
CUB fights on behalf of Wisconsin residential and small business ratepayers for fair and reasonable utility rates before the PSC, the courts, and the legislature. Historically, CUB saves $1,000 for every $1 contributed. Please join CUB today and help fight the utilities and save money on your utility bills. All donations to CUB are tax-deductible as allowed by law and support all our regulatory, advocacy, and educational programs.
Become a CUB Member
Become a Residential Member
CUB’s working across the state, for customers of investor-owned utilities like We Energies and Madison Gas & Electric, to customers of municipal utilities to push for fair and affordable rates and safe and reliable utility service.
Become a Small Business Member
CUB is expanding its outreach to give small businesses a greater voice and platform for utilities and regulators to pay attention to their unique concerns when it comes to the need for competitive and reliable utility rates and service.
Planned Giving
Interested in helping CUB well into the future? Please consider making a planned gift to Citizens Utility Board of Wisconsin. It’s another way to support CUB in addition to a cash or credit card donation. By including Citizens Utility Board of Wisconsin in your legacy giving your gift will last for generations, ensuring an independent voice for Wisconsin’s utility customers well into the future.
We recommend you consult with your attorney or tax advisor about the various tax benefits and restrictions that may apply to your specific situation. You and your advisors are welcome to contact CUB with any questions.
Bequest Gift
Include Citizens Utility Board in your will.
Life Income Gift
Family obligations and the need to provide for retirement, coupled with the high cost of living, make it difficult for many people to consider substantial charitable gifts now. But there is a way to have the satisfaction of making a meaningful lifetime gift without sacrifice. In fact, you can get current income tax and financial benefits. It is called a life income gift. You irrevocably transfer some assets to Citizens Utility Board now, and in return, you (and a survivor, if you wish) receive income for life. As a result, the assets are used to carry out our mission.
Chartiable Gift Annuity
The charitable gift annuity enables you to make a gift to support Citizens Utility Board and at the same time improve the quality of life for your family. In exchange for your gift of cash or marketable securities to Citizens Utility Board, we agree to pay you (and a survivor or other beneficiary) a fixed amount annually for your lifetime. The transfer is part gift and part purchase of an annuity. The rate of return is attractive and the payments are guaranteed for life.
Charitable Remainder Trust
A trust is a legal agreement that specifies how the assets placed under the trust will be managed. The charitable remainder trust is an attractive method to achieve a variety of goals while providing income for life and knowing that after your lifetime, the property remaining in the trust will be used by Citizens Utility Board as you specified.
Life Insurance Gift
Some of our supporters no longer need their life insurance that was purchased years ago to provide for children or other family members. If that is your situation, please consider donating the policy to Citizens Utility Board. You may claim a charitable deduction for approximately the policy’s cash surrender value, and the proceeds are completely removed from your estate.
Charitable Lead Trust
Individuals with very large estates can use a charitable lead trust to benefit Citizens Utility Board and pass principal to family members with little or no tax penalty.
Retirement Plan Gift
Many individuals today have large qualified retirement plans such as an IRA, 401(k), or Keogh plan. These assets have been growing tax-free for years. Once the owner begins to receive payments from the qualified plans, the distributions are taxed. The plans are also included in the owner’s taxable estate. A retirement plan may be an excellent source of funds for making a gift to Citizens Utility Board.