In 2009, CUB's utility field more than 10,000 calls, faxes, e-mails and letters from the public each year, showing consumers how to cut their phone bills, catching utility-bill errors, and securing customer refunds. CUB's legal team handles utility cases before the courts and the Illinois Commerce Commission. CUB helped spearhead the "rate-hike rebellion of 2007," sparking tens of thousands of e-mails to legislators, releasing a report showing that the rate hikes would cost 20,000 jobs, and helping to organize a State Capitol rally where one legislator cried: "Thank God for CUB!" Legislators eventually killed the auction, ordered $1 billion in refunds, and created The Illinois Power Agency, charged with securing the lowest prices possible for Illinois consumers. Read the guides on this page and take the CUB's Electric-savings Survey to do a self-evaluation on how CUB can help you and what you can do to help yourself.