About Us
Mailing Address:
16 N. Carroll St.
Suite 530
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 251-3322
(608) 251-7609 FAX
staff@wiscub.org
Tax Forms:
Citizens Utility Board 2009 Form 990
Citizens Utility Board 2008 Form 990
Citizens Utility Board 2007 Form 990
Mission Statement:
The Citizens Utility Board:
- Provides public interest legal services to ensure effective and democratic representation of residential, farm and small business utility customers before regulatory agencies, the legislature, and the courts, and other public bodies;
- Advocates for reliable, affordable and sound utility service;
- Educates consumers on utility service through the preparation, compilation, analysis, and dissemination of information and resource materials relating to utilities regulation and public energy and telecommunications policy, and generally engage in and support public education regarding utilities regulation and public energy and telecommunications policy.
History:
The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) regulates monopoly public utilities and must balance the interests of ratepayers and utility shareholders. Utilities are required to provide good service at fair rates for consumers with a fair rate of return for utilities.
The PSC makes these decisions at formal hearings where the positions of both consumers and utilities are heard and in return utilities can earn a reasonable profit for providing service.
But, before CUB, consumers lacked the organization and expertise to effectively counter the arguments of the utilities, who were able to count on the talents of full time attorneys and other experts paid for by rates.
Enter CUB.
CUB is the product of the consumer movement triggered by Ralph Nader and others in the 1960's and 1970's.
In 1979, by act of the Wisconsin legislature, the first CUB was created in Wisconsin to give consumers a voice in the regulatory proceedings which control monopoly utilities.
In 1986, CUB Wisconsin reorganized as a private nonprofit organization in response to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that found unconstitutional the requirement for utilities to include CUB membership brochures in their bills.
CUB exists today because of the power and generosity of its membership. CUB is a 501(c)(3) organization supported by members who are concerned about utility service, and are willing to help CUB fight for reliable and affordable utility service.
CUB Board
President - Steve Brachman
Vice-President - Rodney Stevenson
Secretary - Andy Olsen
Treasurer - Don Wichert
Paula Hogan
Margot King
Tim Lovett
Russell Wallace
CUB Staff
Executive Director:
Charlie Higley
Phone: (608) 251-3322 ext. 14
higley@wiscub.org
Research Director:
Dennis Dums
Phone: (608) 251-3322 ext. 12
dums@wiscub.org
Office Manager:
Richard Storck
Phone: (608) 251-3322 ext. 10
storck@wiscub.org
www.wiscub.org
