CUB Asks Illinois Residents: What's Your Worst Utility Bill?

Group Plans Earth Day Prize For One Person Who Answers Poll

News provided by

Apr 06, 2016, 11:56 ET

CHICAGO, April 6, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Citizens Utility Board (CUB) wants to crown Illinois' worst utility bill—and give one lucky Illinois resident a high-tech tool to help slash home energy costs.

For most of April (Earth Month), Illinoisans can visit CUB's website, at www.CitizensUtilityBoard.org, to answer this quick poll:

What is your worst bill?

Cable/Internet?
Electric?
Natural Gas?
Phone?

Everyone who answers the poll by noon Earth Day, Friday, April 22, will be entered in a giveaway to win a super-efficient smart thermostat, valued at $250. CUB will randomly select one winner and announce the person's name later that day.

"Nobody likes to pay the monthly cable, energy, and phone bills," CUB Communications Director Jim Chilsen said. "This is a fun chance for people to blow off steam, and learn about another great way to cut their costs: energy efficiency."

Wi-Fi connected smart thermostats represent cutting-edge technology to help homes reduce their heating and cooling costs. The devices allow customers to finely tune and monitor energy use from the convenience of their phone, tablet or home computer. The thermostats "learn" user behavior over time to optimize comfort and generate energy savings automatically.

The devices, which are valued at about $250, could cut a home's heating and cooling costs by up to 20 percent.

Participants in the giveaway must be 18 years of age or older and live in Illinois to win.

CUB is Illinois' leading nonprofit utility watchdog. Created by the Illinois Legislature, CUB opened its doors in 1984 to represent the interests of residential and small-business utility customers. Since then, it has saved consumers more than $20 billion by helping to block rate hikes and secure refunds. For more information, call CUB's Consumer Hotline, 1-800-669-5556, or visit its award-winning website, www.CitizensUtilityBoard.org.

SOURCE Citizens Utility Board