Tuesday, December 20, 2011—In 2011, CUB helped save consumers about $300 million through its legal team, consumer advocates, and top-notch tools from an award-winning website.

"We do a lot on a shoestring budget, so Illinois consumers are getting their money's worth from CUB," CUB Board President Robert Craig Neff, of Northbrook, said. "I'm proud that our hard-working staff helped consumers save $300 million, but we can't take too long to celebrate. There's more money to be saved." CUB helped make a major impact in ComEd's $396 million rate-hike request, which was cut by $240 million. That was still more than the company deserved, and CUB is appealing the increase before the Illinois Appellate Court, where consumers have gotten good news lately.

An Appellate Court struck down a charge on Peoples Gas bills, saving consumers millions of dollars, and CUB is fighting for a $36.8 million refund connected to another decision regarding ComEd's 2008 increase.

On the policy front, CUB's efforts in Springfield forced ComEd and Ameren to improve "smart-grid" legislation, reducing the return on equity, or the utility profit rate for shareholders, locked into the bill. That change could save consumers an estimated $30 million in the first year alone.

Savings: Up to $306.8 million To date, CUB's free online tools have shown consumers how to save more than $15 million, including:

Savings: $15,880,021 CUB held nearly 500 events throughout Illinois and gave guidance and money-saving tips to more than 8,000 people who contacted the consumer group in 2011. Among those consumers, CUB experts helped uncover more than $94,000 worth of erroneous charges and utility mistakes. That includes 25 cases where we helped save people between $1,000 and $8,000.

Plus, CUB's outreach department handed out about 60,000 Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) bulbs with a money-saving potential of $600,000. "It was the first time anyone listened," said part-time Chicago resident Deanna Houston, who finally found an ear at CUB after several frustrating calls to her utility. "I cannot tell you how grateful I was." CUB helped Houston erase an error in her Peoples Gas record that had temporarily caused a dip in her credit score, preventing her from purchasing a car.

"Annette was the miracle worker who made the contact calls to make sure the switch was complete," said Eileen Hynes, a Chicago retiree. "She went above and beyond the call of duty." CUB's Annette Evans helped Hynes switch her local, long-distance and international calling plans, saving her $325 a year.

"We won't be paying a phone bill for the next 18 months," said Dennis Pransky. CUB helped the Romeoville landscaper remove a $19.99 "cramming" charge from his local phone bill, and won him a bill credit for the months he paid the phone company for an unused Internet connection.

"I'm so appreciative to CUB for getting me out of this mess," said Carl Baker, a 73-year-old Chicago retiree. CUB helped him remove an erroneous $8,100 ComEd charge from his bill. "I probably would have been dead before that bill was paid off," he said.

"You are all doing a great job. Thanks a million!" said Donna Moss, a Skokie grandmother. CUB helped her save $180 a year on phone service by switching to a CUB-designed AT&T Consumer's Choice plan. January
CUB warns consumers about an increase of up to 63 percent on AT&T line charges. People flood CUB with calls, asking about the low-cost Consumer's Choice calling plans, detailed at CUB's Phone Savings Center.

February
CUB vows to fight $200 million in rate hikes proposed by Peoples Gas and Ameren in a single week.

March
Evanston wins 21,000 "CFL" bulbs for saving the most energy with CUB Energy Saver in 2010: 50,000 kWh, $6,500. CUB unveils a popular guide on new electricity offers that have suddenly exploded in Illinois. After CUB's Action Network sends 11,000 messages to state lawmakers against two bills that threaten huge natural gas increases, Gov. Pat Quinn vetoes the legislation.

April
CUB releases a new video, "60 Seconds to Phone Savings," on its YouTube page, and schedules five straight days of phone-bill clinics as part of its Spring Savings Week, April 4-8.


May
CUB Energy Saver wins the Publicity Club of Chicago's Golden Trumpet award for "outstanding achievement."

June
An analysis from CUB Energy Saver finds that ComEd customers could be overpaying by $189 million a year—but simple actions could lead to triple-digit savings.

July
Based on statistics from the CUB Cellphone Saver, CUB says 9 out of 10 smart phone users could be wasting hundreds of dollars a year on bad data plans.

August
CUB's five-city campaign, with Attorney General Lisa Madigan, AARP, and Illinois legislators, aims to wipe out Ameren's $90 million rate-hike plan. CUB also wins its biggest individual consumer savings of 2011.

September
CUB works with Gov. Pat Quinn and the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) to alert consumers about affordable phone service during "Lifeline Awareness Week."

October
An Illinois Appellate Court strikes down a Peoples Gas charge that CUB called illegal. Plus, CUB releases "The Saving Adventures of CUB" video series, starring a furry mascot chosen by consumers in an online poll.

November
An ICC judge issues a proposed order recommending that a $120 million Peoples and North Shore Gas rate-hike request be cut in half. CUB argues the cuts should be even greater.

December
State regulators ban Nicor from telemarketing "ComfortGuard," an optional gas-pipe insurance plan that CUB had criticized for years as being overpriced and little used. CUB also holds its last money-saving phone-bill clinic of the year in Chicago, after 488 planned CUB events across the Land of Lincoln. Help CUB fight for Illinois consumers in 2012. Become a consumer champion.