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Check out CUB’s free February events

Jim Chilsen — Sun, 02 Feb 2025 12:18:19 +0000

CUB’s Outreach team travels across the state of Illinois to staff free events to give consumers energy efficiency tips for their home, educate them on how clean energy can cut their utility bills and help people protect themselves from scams and rip-offs. We hope to see you at one soon! 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 5, Garfield Park Affordable and Sustainable Housing Workshop (in-person event) Join CUB and Illinois Solar for All at the Garfield Park Community Council offices (4215 W. Washington Blvd., Chicago, IL 60624) on Wednesday, Feb. 5 from 4 p.m.- 6 p.m. Bring your ComEd bill and get expert advice on how to save money in the cold months ahead. Please register for this in-person event or call 773-948-8989, ext. 160. 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 11, Elgin Utility Bill Clinic (in-person) CUB and state Rep. Anna Moeller are hosting a free utility bill clinic at Gail Borden Library (270 N. Grove Avenue, Elgin, IL 60120), where CUB will provide suggestions on how to reduce your utility bills and tap into money-saving, clean energy programs. Each participant will speak one-on-one with a CUB counselor to receive a personalized analysis of their bills. For questions or to reserve your spot for this in-person event, contact Rep. Moeller’s office: 847-841-7130 or email staterepmoeller@gmail.com. 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 11, Understanding Cable Options and Reducing Robocalls (in-person) Join CUB at the Lake Villa District Public Library for a free presentation about your cable options and reducing robocalls. A CUB representative will discuss the choices in the TV market, ways to cut cable costs, streaming services available to consumers and how to avoid common robocall scams. Please register for this in-person event. 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 13, Understanding Cable Options and Reducing Robocalls (virtual event) Join CUB and the Mount Prospect Public Library for a free presentation about internet privacy and reducing robocalls. A CUB representative will provide insights on how to protect yourself online and over the phone to avoid costly scams. Please register for this online event. 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 19, Skokie Utility Bill Clinic (in-person) CUB and the Village of Skokie are hosting a free utility bill clinic at Skokie Village Hall (5127 Oakton St., Skokie, IL 60077), where CUB will provide suggestions on how to reduce your utility bills and tap into money-saving, clean energy programs. Each participant will speak one-on-one with a CUB counselor to receive a personalized analysis of their bills. Please register for this in-person event. 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Monday, Feb. 24, Evergreen Park Utility Bill Clinic (in-person) CUB and the Village of Evergreen Park are hosting a free utility bill clinic at Evergreen Park Village Hall (9418 S. Kedzie Ave., Evergreen Park, IL 60805), where CUB will provide suggestions on how to reduce your utility bills and tap into money-saving, clean energy programs. Each participant will speak one-on-one with a CUB counselor to receive a personalized analysis of their bills. 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 25, Decarbonizing Your Home (in-person) Join CUB and Greener Grove, a grassroots […]

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Summertime with CUB: July 2019 events

Jennifer — Fri, 28 Jun 2019 15:53:47 +0000

Summer is here and you may already be feeling the heat…of your utility bills. CUB’s Outreach team is on track to staff at least 500 events this year as part of our 35th Anniversary Clean Bill Campaign. At any of our utility bill clinics, tabling events and speaking presentations, CUB experts are here to help you spot errors on your bills, enroll in energy efficiency programs and of course, help you save money. Click on any of the events below to see when CUB will be in your neighborhood: Solar Power Hour: Palos Hills-Monday, July 1 Solar Power Hour: Crest Hill-Monday, July 8 Solar Power Hour: Geneva-Tuesday, July 9 Solar Power Hour: LaGrange-Thursday, July 11 Solar Power Hour: Palatine-Saturday, July 13 Chicago Utility Bill Clinic with Speaker Michael J. Madigan & Alderman Marty Quinn-Tuesday, July 16 Solar Power Hour: Elgin-Tuesday, July 16 Chicago Utility Bill Clinic with Speaker Michael J. Madigan & Alderman Marty Quinn-Wednesday, July 17 Solar Power Hour: Riverside-Wednesday, July 17 Chicago 19th Ward Utility Bill Clinic-Thursday, July 18 Solar Power Hour: Winfield-Saturday, July 20 Solar Power Hour: Oak Lawn-Monday, July 22 Chicago 19th Ward Utility Bill Clinic-Tuesday, July 23 Solar Power Hour: Mount Prospect-Tuesday, July 23 Chicago 27th District Utility Bill Clinic-Wednesday, July 24 Skokie Utility Bill Clinic-Thursday, July 25 Solar Power Hour: Glen Ellyn-Wednesday, July 31 Visit CUB’s Events page for more upcoming events and check out our Clean Energy page for more utility tips.

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CUB in Your Neighborhood: March 2019 events

Jennifer — Wed, 27 Feb 2019 21:09:42 +0000

As part of CUB’s 35th Anniversary Clean Bill Campaign, we’re aiming to staff at least 500 events in 2019 with our Outreach team. The campaign’s goal is to clean utility bills of bad deals and wasteful spending, and to educate people about opportunities with clean energy in Illinois. Here’s where you can catch us in March. Click on any event for more details: Chicago Energy Savings Workshop: Sat. March 2; 10 a.m.-11 a.m., Lincoln Belmont Library (1659 W. Melrose St.) Chicago Southwest Side Health Fair: Wed. March 6; 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Autumn Green at Midway Village (6700 S. Keating Ave.) Going Green Matters: Sun. March 10; 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., Michigan Shores Club (911 Michigan Ave., Wilmette, IL 60091) Hoffman Estates’ Clean Energy Future: Wed. March 13; 7 p.m.-9 p.m., Hoffman Estates Village Hall (1900 Hassell Rd.) Libertyville Green Living Fair: Sat. March 16; 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Libertyville Civic Center (135 W. Church) Edgewater Senior Resource Fair: Mon. March 18; 10 a.m.- 1 p.m., Broadway Armory (5917 N. Broadway, Chicago, IL 60660) Mount Prospect Utility Bill Clinic: Mon. March 18; 6 p.m.-8 p.m, Mount Prospect Public Library-Meeting Room A (10 S. Emerson) Robbins Health Fair: Wed. March 20; 10 a.m.-2 p.m., St. Peter Claver Court.(14139 S. Claire Blvd.) Morton Grove Utility Bill Clinic: Thurs. March 21;6 p.m.-8 p.m., Civic Center (6140 Dempster St.) 3rd Annual Health Fair: Sat. March 23; 10 a.m-2 p.m., Leonard M. Louie Field House (1700 S. Wentworth Ave., Chicago, IL 60616) Chicago Sustainability Panel: Sat. March 30; 1 p.m.-3 p.m., Plant Chicago (1400 W. 46th St.) DuPage Senior Expo: Sun. March 31; 12 p.m.-4 p.m., College of DuPage Robert J. Miller Homeland Security Education Center (245 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn, IL 60137) Be sure to check our events calendar for more dates near you.

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“Listen, Lead, Share” shows urgency for clean energy future

Jennifer — Tue, 13 Nov 2018 16:41:44 +0000

The Future Energy Jobs Act (FEJA) proves that strong bipartisan leadership can grow a clean energy economy that creates jobs and reduces power bills. And from dozens of recent listening sessions across Illinois, residents have an urgent message for the new governor and General Assembly: Don’t stop now! Thanks to FEJA, historic state legislation that celebrates its second anniversary of passage on Dec. 6, good things are happening in Illinois: Illinois has the lowest electric bills in the Midwest, and the fifth lowest in the country. A predicted 2,000 percent increase in solar power has more than a dozen companies interested in our state. “That’s a market where you want to be,” one solar businessman said. 119,000 people are now working in clean energy—six times the number of computer programmers and web developers. “It’s very important to make a positive contribution to society,” said Julio, who one of the first graduates of a solar jobs training program offered by Elevate Energy, Millennium Solar, and Livewire Construction. But how do we build off this momentum? That’s why the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition launched the “Listen, Lead, Share” Campaign. So far, we’ve held 58 community conversations, in cities like Chicago, Peoria, East St. Louis, and Carbondale, and we’ve found strong support for state leaders to tackle these four pillars: Equitable clean energy benefits across Illinois. 100 percent clean energy by 2050. Cutting carbon pollution from the power sector by 2030. Electrification of the transportation sector. CUB has participated in about 20 of these events, and Environmental Outreach Coordinator Scott Allen says he’s concentrated on listening. “With passage of the Future Energy Jobs Act, Illinois has taken great strides toward a clean, affordable energy future, and we want everyone to be part of the discussion on how we build off that momentum,” Allen said. “It’s key that people from every corner of Illinois come together to talk about the economic advantages of affordable, clean energy and how we achieve that for everyone.” In Illinois, energy policy is transforming lives. “The state wants green energy, and this has allowed me to stay in my home,” said Bill, a DeKalb retiree, who used solar power to cut his “outrageous” electric bills. FEJA has given Illinois a great head start, but given gridlock in Washington, there is an urgent need to continue to lead. Illinois consumers like Bill are counting on us.

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What’s it like at a CUB event?

Matt — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 18:38:42 +0000

By Matt Kulling, CUB Communications Assistant When I was asked to attend a few CUB events out in the field, I didn’t know what to expect. I heard from the staffers in our outreach department that events were eye-opening and fun experiences, but I had no idea what was in store for me. At both of the events I attended, one in Logan Square and one in South Chicago, I was surprised by the grace and knowledge the staff had when fielding all kinds of questions. In Logan Square at a back-to-school fair, outreach intern Anairis seamlessly transitioned from answering questions about CUB’s mission to taking inquiries on how to deal with alternative suppliers knocking on your front door. Oh, and did I mention she did those in both Spanish AND English? I only speak basic conversational Spanish, but I could always make out one phrase from inquiring consumers: “Gracias por su ayuda” which means “thanks for your help.” At a resource fair in South Chicago, CUB staffer Yami gave consumers information on rebates for energy efficient appliances, tips on home energy savings and Illinois’ new community solar program. Of the dozens of people who came to our table, several of them commended CUB for our work, or to tell a story about how CUB’s services, mainly the Consumer Hotline (1-800-669-5556), helped them resolve an issue with a utility. One couple came up to our table and said they had used the hotline to resolve a billing dispute they had with ComEd. “We didn’t know what to do, and then we got your number from 311 and you handled the problem right away, so thank you,” one of them told me. One consumer stormed our table and said, “You guys are the scam artists right? A bunch of my neighbors wasted tons of money signing up with you.” I was confused. Then, quick on her feet, Yami said, “I think you have us confused with someone else. Alternative suppliers maybe? We’re a consumer advocacy group that helps people with utilities. Check out some of the fact sheets and information we brought along.” I couldn’t believe gracefully she handled the situation. Another couple approached our table and proudly announced they had been CUB members almost from the day we opened our doors in 1984 (and nearly a decade before I was even born!) “Keep up the good work!” one of them said as they strolled by. Most of the time I’m chained to my desk in our Chicago office writing press releases, scheduling social media posts and answering calls from consumers, so it’s difficult to gauge the impact of the work we’re doing. Are people listening to what CUB has to say? Is our information useful? Are consumers appreciative? The answer to all these is a resounding YES. If you’re even half as impressed with the work CUB accomplishes as I am, I encourage you to help us in the fight against higher utility bills and bad deals.

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Meet CUB’s Outreach Volunteer Arpi Yazijian!

Jim Chilsen — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 21:23:33 +0000

By Samantha Vercellino CUB’s Outreach Volunteer Arpi Yazijian knows that big utilities never get tired of asking for more money, which is why she volunteers her time helping the watchdog group protect consumers like you. The Glenview-area resident—who’s been a CUB member for ten years –contacted Illinois’ leading utility nonprofit because she wanted to help CUB fight for consumers. “I think it’s awesome that we have an organization in Illinois that solely protects the consumer and nothing else,” Arpi said. “Just knowing I’m helping makes me feel good.” Arpi often helps the Outreach Team –which held a record breaking 500 events last year. Recently, she sorted through hundreds of surveys that asked consumers about their electricity, natural gas and telephone usage. This is not the first time that Arpi has dedicated her time to volunteering. In the past, she has spent many years coordinating fund-raising programs for the local schools. If you want to be a volunteer, give CUB a call, at 1-800-669-5556, and ask for Hilary Snover or Matt Harvey.

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