CUB marks "Money Smart Week" with six free money-saving events

Experts from the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) will spend “Money Smart Week” holding six free events to help Chicagoland consumers do some spring cleaning on their utility bills.

“Unnecessarily high utility bills can be a real mess for a lot of Illinois families,” CUB Executive Director David Kolata said. “But CUB’s experts can show you how to clean up your electric, natural gas and phone bills, putting real money back in your pocket.”

CUB’s campaign aligns with the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago’s “Money Smart Week,” April 20-27, which aims to help consumers better manage their finances. The consumer watchdog has shown people how to save millions of dollars through an award-winning website, www.CitizensUtilityBoard.org, and free events that give tips on how to cut costs:

Utility Bill Clinic
1 p.m., Tuesday, April 23                   
Glenview Public Library                  
1930 Glenview Rd.                      
Glenview, IL

Note: Attendees should bring their phone, electric and gas bills so CUB experts can look them over. Please register by calling the library at 847-729-7500.

Utility Bill Clinic
6:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 23 
Skokie Village Hall
5127 Oakton St.
Skokie, IL

Note: Attendees should bring their phone, electric and gas bills so CUB experts can look them over. Please register by calling the Village Hall at 847-673-0500.

Money Smart Talk 
1 p.m., Wednesday, April 24                 
Wilmette Public Library                     
1242 Wilmette Ave.                      
Wilmette, IL

Note: For more information, call the library at 847-256-6935.

Phone Bill Clinic
2 p.m., Wednesday, April 24
Morton Grove Public Library                  6140 Lincoln Ave.                      
Morton Grove, IL

Note: Attendees should bring their phone bills so CUB experts can look them over. Please register by calling the library at 847-965-4220.

Utility Bill Clinic
9:30 a.m., Friday, April 26
Frankfort Public Library District
21119 S. Pfeiffer Rd.
Frankfort, IL

Note: Attendees should bring their phone, electric and gas bills so CUB experts can look them over. For more information, contact the library, at 815-469-2423.

Phone Bill Clinic
12 p.m., Friday, April 26
Village of Elwood
401 Mississippi Ave.
Elwood, IL

Note: Attendees should bring their phone bills so CUB experts can look them over. To register, please call the office of state Rep. Larry Walsh, Jr., 815-730-8600, who is hosting the event. State Sen. Pat McGuire also is hosting the event.

At these events, participants will receive tips about:

*The Consumer’s Choice local-calling plans, designed by CUB under a legal settlement with AT&T. The plans have been saving Illinois callers an average of about $200 a year.

*CUB Energy Saver, www.CUBenergysaver.com, a free online service that has helped consumers cut energy bills by an average of more than $100 a year.

*How to spot unnecessary charges on electric, natural gas and phone bills.

*Line-Backer, a costly—and optional—AT&T service that most people don’t need.

*CUB’s Cellphone Savings Center, www.CUBCellPhoneSaver.com, which
gives the latest tips and information to cut wireless costs.

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. Since then, CUB has saved consumers more than $10 billion by helping to block rate hikes and secure refunds. For more information, call CUB’s Consumer Hotline, at 1-800-669-5556, or visit CUB’s award-winning website, www.CitizensUtilityBoard.org.