Lessons Learned from Illinois CUB
Posted on August 9, 2011 by Andrea Crosby
Tags, Consumers and Utility Customers, Telecommunications and CUB Connects
Last week I headed to Chicago to spend time with the energetic staff at Illinois CUB. Yes, you read that correctly: just like Oregon, Illinois has a CUB that represents residential customers in ratemaking proceedings before the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC), in the courts, and before other public bodies and provides consumers with information and assistance regarding their utility companies.
As the Project Manager for CUB Connects, I am developing an outreach program to get information on selecting communication services, reducing high phone bills and other consumer tips into the hands of my fellow Oregonians. Through the research for and creation of the CUB Connects website, my coworkers and I have learned a lot about phone and internet options, pricing, scams, opportunities and more. In addition to the informative website and searchable database, there is a lot more information that we can share with consumers—and making sure we have an effective outreach strategy is vital to getting that information out there.
Illinois CUB has a very strong consumer outreach program, and experiencing how CUB Illinois helps consumers save money in the complicated world of telecommunications is a great first step to planning our own outreach initiatives. In addition to great online resources and consumer guides, the Illinois CUB has been hosting phone bill clinics for over 15 years. These free clinics are offered throughout the state and hosted by community centers, libraries, community leaders and other groups.
I attended two phone bill clinics where Illinois CUB staff sat down one-on-one with attendees to analyze their phone bills and offer specific cost-cutting advice. One staffer was able to save a customer from Summit, IL $52 a month on his home phone bill. That totals over $600 a year in savings! Both of the phone bill clinics were sponsored by public libraries that commonly have workshops and events for their community members. The first clinic in Plainfield, IL had over 30 attendees, and the savings averaged $15-$20 a month per attendee!
At the end of the last clinic, I spoke with a woman from Summit, IL about her lengthy support of IL CUB since its formation in 1983. When I explained to her that I was from Oregon CUB and why I was visiting from Oregon to learn about IL CUB’s outreach program she beamed with pride, emphasized the important work that CUB does and wished me the best of luck in helping Oregonians save money on their phone bills and traverse the ever-complex world of communications. At CUB Connects, we intend to live up to that mandate by visiting communities around the state. If you’d like to partner with us on bringing a workshop to your community, contact us at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)!
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03/24/17 | 0 Comments | Lessons Learned from Illinois CUB