MILWAUKEE — “Power in numbers” was the theme on the evening of December 3 as the Citizens Utility Board celebrated the 45th anniversary of its founding in 1979. Wisconsin was the first state in the country to create a nonprofit consumer advocate for utility customers. CUB gives voice to residential, farm and small business customers in cases involving monopoly utilities. It was 50 years ago this fall that consumer crusader Ralph Nader unveiled his “Self-Defense Plan for Utility Customers.” Nader called for the creation of residential utility consumer action groups in each state to provide greater balance between utility shareholders and customers at public utility commissions where decisions involving monopoly utilities are made. Wisconsin’s Legislature created CUB as that advocate in 1979. Since then, CUB has helped save billions of dollars for homeowners, renters and businesses across the state. That includes $300 million in the past few years, and more than $1.2 billion over the past decade alone. “We’re confronting some of the same challenges that Wisconsin faced decades ago – rising demand for power, rising costs, and an increasing economic divide between the haves and have nots,” said Tom Content, executive director. Content urged those in attendance to spread the word about CUB’s watchdog work and its 45 and Counting donation campaign. “The voice of the customers is even more critical now than ever. There’s power in numbers. We can build more support across the state for a stronger economic future with affordability at the centerpiece.” During the event, Public Service Commissioner Kristy Nieto presented Tom Content and the CUB organization with a commendation on behalf of Gov. Tony Evers, honoring CUB’s history and its work for the citizens of Wisconsin. Commissioner Nieto delivered remarks, recognizing the work of CUB and the value of its expertise and perspective in cases that come before the Commission affecting customer rates and construction projects. “We are very lucky to have the Citizens Utility Board that we have,” said Commissioner Nieto. “Although Wisconsin has a smaller Citizens Utility Board consumer advocate office than some other states, the team that works for CUB is quite formidable in terms of its technical expertise, decades of utility regulatory experience, and big contributions to state and national regulatory communities.” “Over the years I’ve seen time and time again how CUB’s participation in our proceedings has led to better outcomes for customers, for utilities and for our state,” Nieto added. Brady Steigauf, community liaison manager at Focus on Energy, provided guests with insights about incentives available to Wisconsinites through the Inflation Reduction Act Home Energy Rebates. Wisconsin is the one of the first states in the country to roll out incentives through the program. Details are available at www.focusonenergy.com, and customers can find out what they’re eligible for through the Focus “Get Started” tab. The CUB 45th Anniversary Celebration took place December 3rd at Radio Milwaukee in Milwaukee’s Fifth Ward. During the event CUB presented awards to individuals, nonprofits and businesses who have been strong allies and leaders over the years. Award winner state Sen. Robert Cowles, R-Green Bay supported the state Focus on Energy program, environmental trust financing to bring down the cost of retiring coal plants, and a more holistic planning process to guide the state’s energy future. Individual award winners include: Danielle Chaussee, Spanish teacher at Oconomowoc High School and Kelly Holtzman, retired social studies teacher at Oconomowoc High School, as well as Michael Barnett of HGA in Madison, Bonnie Strauss of Jackson and Brady Steigauf, community liaison manager with Focus on Energy. Chaussee and Holtzman were honored for their partnership with CUB, which has helped high school students learn about CUB’s work. Spanish students have assisted with translation of CUB materials for the CUB website, including recaps of educational webinars held this fall. Their work with CUB was honored in 2020 by the Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education as energy educators of the year Barnett was honored for his dialogue with CUB in policy debate, active role in preparing comments in PSC proceedings, support of CUB’s work, and commitment to greater transparency of PSC proceedings. Strauss was honored for her work over the years as long-serving volunteer CUB board president and her active support for CUB through its monthly sustainers donation program; and Brady Steigauf of Focus. Steigauf, a CUB member is a self-described energy efficiency evangelist who is actively working to help Focus programs reach disadvantaged communities across the state. CUB outreach and engagement director Richard Storck, who has worked at CUB for 30 of its 45 years, was awarded a certification of appreciation for his devotion to CUB’s mission and advocacy. Nonprofit community energy advocate award winners were Community Shares of Wisconsin, based in Madison; Midwest Renewable Energy Association, based in Custer; Walnut Way Conservation Corp, based in Milwaukee’s Lindsay Heights neighborhood; and Vernon County Energy District.
- Community Shares of Wisconsin was honored for fostering social change through its workplace giving program and one-day The Big Share fundraising drive each spring. CUB has been a longtime member nonprofit partner of Community Shares.
- Midwest Renewable Energy Association was honored for policy collaboration and support of CUB’s education mission. MREA has participated in CUB educational webinars, and has helped educate Wisconsinites about renewable energy, battery storage and other technologies over the past 35 years at its annual energy fair.
- Walnut Way Conservation Corp, a neighborhood revitalization nonprofit, was honored for its work as a new entrant in the utility advocacy space, advocating for low- and moderate-income customers. It has emerged as a voice for utility customers in Milwaukee who are struggling to make ends meet. Its work has helped CUB and Wisconsin raise the profile of the ongoing challenge of energy burden that is gripping folks in urban and rural parts of the state.
- Vernon County Energy District was honored for its community education and awareness efforts. The nonprofit volunteer-led group has installed energy monitors in 108 homes across Vernon County that help track in real time the energy use by all devices in these homes. The first energy district of its kind in Wisconsin, Vernon County is helping people understand the home-grown opportunities of the energy transition. You can’t manage what you don’t measure, and VCED is pioneering efforts to help people take that important next step of not only measuring but acting to bring down their own energy bills.
Business awards were given to Lakefront Brewery of Milwaukee; Evolution Marketing of Nashotah; Green Homeowners United of West Allis; and Arch Electric of Plymouth.
- CUB small business member Evolution Marketing was honored for supporting CUB’s advocacy, providing marketing, graphic design, and outreach and engagement services, along with pro bono services to CUB since 2017.
- Arch Solar was honored for its policy support to enhance distributed energy deployment and its ongoing support for CUB via sponsorships and support for the one-day fundraising event, The Big Share.
- Green Homeowners United, a Focus on Energy trade ally, was saluted for its work to improve energy efficiency of homes, active support as a CUB small business member and participation in CUB educational webinars to help spread the word about the value of saving energy.
- Lakefront Brewery was honored for its support for CUB and for policies that promote fairness for customers, as well as sponsorship for CUB events and participation in our one-day fundraising event, The Big Share.
