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CUB Event To Give Berwyn Residents Energy-Efficiency Tips And Prizes That Could Cut Bills By Hundreds Of Dollars A Year
CHICAGO, July 22, 2009—The Citizens Utility Board (CUB) will alert Berwyn residents to energy-efficiency incentives of up to $1,500, pass out free money-saving light bulbs, and give one lucky person a “smart” power strip in an event that could show consumers how to cut energy costs by hundreds of dollars a year.
CUB launched this money-saving campaign, “Beyond CFLs,” to help consumers battle a bad economy as well as more than $300 million in utility rate-hike cases the consumer group currently faces. At the CUB event, Berwyn consumers will learn about energy-efficiency tips, including the benefits of a home energy audit, how to get an efficiency tax credit of up to $1,500, and even how to get paid for having ComEd junk an old refrigerator. CUB also will spread the word on a new state law that actually will allow consumers to buy new energy-efficient appliances with no up-front cost and pay it off on their own utility bills. The event is:
7 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 5
“Plain and simple, practicing energy efficiency keeps your hard-earned money out of the pockets of the utilities,” CUB Outreach Director Sarah Moskowitz said. “CUB has saved consumers more than $10 billion over our 25 years, so it’s part of our mission to show people how they can take a few simple steps to lower their own energy costs—and in the process help lower energy prices overall.”
Pav YMCA 2947 S. Oak Park Ave. Berwyn CUB is appealing a $273 million ComEd rate hike granted just last year and bracing for another ComEd increase proposal expected within a year. The consumer group also is trying to block Nicor Gas’ attempts to increase the $69 million rate hike it got this year. CUB and other consumer advocates helped cut Nicor’s increase in half. Attendees at CUB’s Berwyn event will receive a free CFL light bulb, which can save as much as $50 over each bulb’s lifetime, and get the chance to win a “smart” power strip that can cut energy bills by hundreds of dollars a year. CUB is Illinois’ leading nonprofit utility watchdog organization. Created by the Illinois Legislature, CUB opened its doors in 1984 to represent the interests of residential and small-business utility customers. Now celebrating its 25th anniversary, CUB has saved consumers more than $10 billion by helping to block rate hikes and secure consumer refunds. For more information, call CUB’s Consumer Hotline, at 1-800-669-5556. |