{"version":"1.0","provider_name":"Citizens Utility Board","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org","title":"About | Citizens Utility Board","type":"rich","width":600,"height":338,"html":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"lvz40gYcsK\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/about\/\">About<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/about\/embed\/#?secret=lvz40gYcsK\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;About&#8221; &#8212; Citizens Utility Board\" data-secret=\"lvz40gYcsK\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n\/* <![CDATA[ *\/\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/* ]]> *\/\n<\/script>\n","description":"[vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Mission&#8221; google_fonts=&#8221;font_family:Playfair%20Display%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal&#8221;][vc_column_text] After a series of local referendums showed overwhelming support for the creation of an advocate for utility customers, the Illinois General Assembly created CUB in 1983. The CUB Act gave the nonprofit, nonpartisan group the mission to fight for the rights of customers of investor-owned electric, gas and telecom utilities across Illinois. [\/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Accomplishments&#8221; google_fonts=&#8221;font_family:Playfair%20Display%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal&#8221;][vc_column_text] Since CUB opened its doors, the watchdog has\u00a0saved Illinois consumers more than $20 billion by fighting proposed electricity, natural gas and telephone rate hikes. For every dollar CUB has raised during that time, it has yielded roughly $300 in savings\u2014a dramatic return on investment that represents one more reason why the St. Louis Post-Dispatch praised CUB as the \u201cgold standard\u201d of consumer advocates. (Watch the Power of CUB, a special celebration of our history, our mission and our supporters.) Below are the free services we provide: CUB&#8217;s Consumer Advocacy Team staffs a toll-free Consumer Hotline, 1-800-669-5556, for Illinois consumers who have questions, concerns or complaints about utility service or rates and are getting nowhere with their utility companies. CUB&#8217;s Outreach Team staffs hundreds of free events a year, running statewide campaigns to educate people on how to reduce their utility bills, covering such topics as energy efficiency, solar power, cable bills, water privatization and clean energy legislation. CUB&#8217;s Legal Team each year challenges multiple utility rate-hike requests before the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC), often helping to save consumers millions of dollars. CUB&#8217;s Policy Team has worked for energy legislation that promotes affordable clean energy and consumer protections. We have helped pass landmark, pro-consumer legislation, including the Future Energy Jobs Act (2016) and the 2021 Climate &amp; Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), making Illinois a national leader in consumer-friendly climate legislation. CUB&#8217;s Communications Team maintains an online library of free fact sheets and guides on a wide range of utility-related issues\u2014including a Gas and Electric guide, a solar guide, a \u201cBetter Heat\u201d guide to help people lower their heating bills, a guide to cutting TV costs and a guide to help people protect their privacy online. [\/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Funding&#8221; google_fonts=&#8221;font_family:Playfair%20Display%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal&#8221;][vc_column_text] The Illinois General Assembly created the Citizens Utility Board in 1983 to represent the interests of residential and small-business utility customers throughout the Land of Lincoln. The legislature created CUB as a membership-based organization. An initial $100,000 loan of \u201cseed money\u201d provided by the state was repaid by CUB on time and with interest. CUB has two arms: The Citizens Utility Board (CUB), was established as a\u00a0501(c)(4) organization.\u00a0Because CUB works for legislation that benefits ratepayers, contributions to this arm are not tax deductible. CUB\u2019s Consumer Education and Research Fund \u2013 or CUB CERF, was established as a 501 (c)(3) organization to help educate consumers on energy efficiency,\u00a0 clean energy and lowering utility bills. Contributions to this arm, including most digital donations, are tax-deductible. CUB obtains its funding from: Grassroots donations: CUB is funded by Illinois consumers through donations of as little as $10 a year. Grants: CUB regularly applies for grants to continue its consumer education and clean energy work. (Note: CUB also is permitted by state law to include membership inserts in mass [&hellip;]","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/CUB_IL_LogoBadgeRGBAdminLogo.png","thumbnail_width":254,"thumbnail_height":254}