CUB Asks: What's The Best 'Energy Song' Ever? Contest To Raise Energy Awareness, Reward $100 Of Free Power

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Jul 30, 2013, 01:23 ET

CHICAGO, July 30, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- One of the state's top consumer groups hopes to spark awareness about energy bills and how to cut them with a contest for utility customers—especially those who like to hum. The Citizens Utility Board (CUB) wants Illinoisans to vote on the world's greatest "energy song."

The payoff is big in a summer of big air-conditioning bills: one month of free electricity (up to $100) for a randomly selected participant who votes and enters the contest by the deadline: noon, Thursday, Aug. 15.

"CUB's top tasks are fighting rate hikes and educating people on how to cut utility bills," CUB Executive Director David Kolata said. "But if a fun contest raises energy awareness—CUB won't hesitate to get people to vote on—and hum—their favorite energy tunes."

Participants can vote on and /or submit a video of any song with lyrics that mention an energy-related word or topic at CUB's Facebook page, www.facebook.com/cubillinois. Click on the "Energy Songs" tab. Participants have to vote to be eligible to win free electricity.

In early voting, Eddy Grant's 1982 hit, "Electric Avenue," was in the lead, followed by another 1980s classic, "The Power of Love," by Huey Lewis and the News, and MGMT's 2008 song, "Electric Feel." But a diverse hit list from the last four decades has garnered votes. It includes: the mellow "You Light Up My Life," by Debby Boone; the catchy Schoolhouse Rock diddy, "Electricity, Electricity;" and more intense tunes, such as "The Power," by Snap!, and "High Voltage," by AC/DC.

CUB is Illinois' leading nonprofit utility watchdog group. Created by the Illinois Legislature, CUB opened its doors in 1984 to represent the interests of residential and small-business utility customers. Since then, CUB has saved consumers more than $10 billion by helping to block rate hikes and secure refunds. For more details, call CUB's Consumer Hotline at 1-800-669-5556 or visit CUB's award-winning website, www.CitizensUtilityBoard.org

SOURCE Citizens Utility Board