If you missed CUB’s educational webinar for homeowners and renters, we have the information to help you manage your home energy use.
The residential educational webinar on Sept. 3 was designed to help Wisconsin residential utility customers understand their energy use, provide tools to take action, and save money.
The webinar went back to the energy basics and covered foundational utility concepts, practical energy-saving measures, and showcased Wisconsin programs that are available to help consumers.
Topics included an introduction to CUB’s mission and advocacy, an explanation of utility rate cases and how consumers can participate, actionable tips for reducing energy consumption in the home, and an overview of programs and resources from Wisconsin’s Focus on Energy program. The webinar empowered Wisconsin utility customers with knowledge and strategies to save money while managing their energy use.
The webinar was hosted and moderated by CUB Board Member Laura West-Kralcik. Executive Director Tom Content shared CUB’s mission and current regulatory work. Then came presentations from Brady Steigauf at Wisconsin Focus on Energy, DIY Educator Ben Nelson, and Angie Kochanski from Arch Solar.
If you missed the webinar, you can download the full presentation slides here, and find resources and links here. You can see a replay of the webinar, Understanding Your Energy Use: Tools for You to Take Action & Save Money, on CUB’s YouTube channel, or below.
Content provided updates on CUB’s regulatory work. We Energies and WPS are looking to increase utility rates for 2027 and 2028. CUB seeks to rein in their exorbitant profits, address profiting on retired power plants, and call attention to the rising cost of nuclear power (now 2/3 of We Energies fuel costs). Tom also discussed affordability challenges facing Wisconsin residential and small business customers, as well as the uncertainty associated with the construction of data centers in Wisconsin and the power required to operate them.
Steigauf, with the Focus on Energy program, engaged participants in a thought provoking “Energy Fact or Fiction” exercise aimed at engaging renters and homeowners on energy savings incentives and possibilities. He moved on to resources for homeowners and renters to save on their utility bills, specifically heating and cooling, lighting, power consumption, and water, plus how to access the Focus on Energy website for rebates and products.
Kochanski, with Arch Solar, explained their work installing solar in Wisconsin since 2003. She reviewed opportunities and misconceptions associated with solar installation emphasizing the advantages of including an essential or whole-home backup battery. Prices on backup batteries have come down and customers can take advantage of time of use rates to further increase savings. She also touched on safety and damage protection including a home resiliency checklist.
Nelson, a DIY Educator, provided information on electric vehicle charging costs compared to gasoline, especially utilizing off-peak rates. Next, he presented the cost advantages of using a heat pump water heater.
CUB has compiled resources and links from the webinar here.
And, be sure to register for CUB’s next webinar; Navigating Energy Costs: Essential Tools for Small Business Success, which will take place Thursday October 1st from noon to 1 p.m.