AT NO COST TO YOU, GET FUNDING FOR Citizens Utility Board of Illinois WHEN YOU:
Buy a Home / Sell a Home / Lease Commercial Property
Buying, Selling, & Leasing Can Help Fight Big Utility Companies
Citizens Utility Board advocates on behalf of the residential utility customers of Illinois by empowering consumers and fighting for better rates and public policy. As a member of Investing in Communities®, Citizens Utility Board can receive funding from the real estate transactions of its supporters, at no cost to the supporter or to Citizens Utility Board. The more supporters use this free platform before engaging a real estate agent, the more resources Citizens Utility Board has to stand up to stand up to utility companies.
Fighting Big Utilities on Behalf of Illinoisans
Created by the Illinois General Assembly in 1983-1984, largely through the efforts of then-Governor Pat Quinn, with the mission of protecting citizens from the lopsided power of gas, phone, and electric companies, the organization intervenes in the rate-setting process before the Illinois Commerce Commission as well as other courts and government agencies.
Saving Money for Consumers
Through its efforts, CUB has kept $20 billion in the pockets of Illinoisans by blocking rate increases and winning refunds for consumers. In order for utility companies to increase their rates, the Illinois Commerce Commission must decide if the increases are justified. Utilities send their experts to testify and CUB is there to make the opposing case for the benefit of consumers, persuading the Commission with facts and relevant laws.
Empowering Consumers with Information
CUB also works to give consumers the tools and information they need to stand up for their own interests. Some of the tools CUB provides are:
- Fact sheets on all categories of utilities, including water, phone/internet, gas, and electric. Fact sheets make it easy for consumers to understand their bill, different pricing plans, alternative providers, and other helpful tips;
- CUB holds Utility Bill Clinics in communities throughout the state that enable consumers to look at and understand their bills with the help of trained volunteers and experts. When consumers are equipped with the information they are more likely to know when they’ve experienced unfair or illegal billing or service practices. Clinic dates can be found in the events calendar; and
- By operating a consumer hotline and an online complaint form that receive more than 6,000 complaints per year, CUB provides additional help to individual consumers, while it serves as watchdog over utilities across Illinois.
Your Purchase, Sale, or Lease Helps CUB Stand up to Big Utilities
Anyone who cares about standing up to big utilities can turn virtually any brokered real estate transaction into funding for Citizens Utility Board. Generate funding for the cause by using this free platform to choose among real estate agents that are appropriate for your residential or commercial real estate needs. Or use IIC to make arrangements with an agent you already have in mind. For example, the purchase or sale of $300,000 home can result in about $1,300 of free funding, which has a direct impact on our mission. Ready to start?
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Focus Area: Environment, Social Justice
Budget: $1 million - $5 million
Total IIC Funding:
$21346