Citizens Utility Board of Minnesota

What Citizens Utility Board of Minnesota does

Citizens Utility Board of Minnesota (CUB) is an independent nonprofit 501(c)(4) organization founded in 2015 that advocates on behalf of Minnesota residential utility consumers. Its mission is to secure affordable, reliable, safe, and clean home energy for all Minnesotans. CUB's primary served audience is Minnesota residential ratepayers, with particular emphasis on low-income households, fixed-income consumers, and vulnerable populations facing disproportionate impacts from rate increases. The organization reaches nearly all of Minnesota's 87 counties through community partnerships and multilingual communications in Hmong, Somali, Spanish, Mandarin, Russian, Oromo, and Karen.

CUB's core offerings fall into two categories: direct consumer services and regulatory advocacy. Direct services include free one-on-one energy bill consultations, shutoff help resources, home energy audit and weatherization guidance, rebates and financing information, and the flagship Lights On, Homes Warm utility bill fund, which provides $500 flat gifts paid directly to utility providers. On the advocacy side, CUB participates in proceedings before the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission and engages with the state legislature, having filed over 100 pro-consumer regulatory filings and documented customer savings exceeding $350 million. The organization does not operate a technology product or platform; its services are delivered via direct consultation, web resources, community events, and regulatory interventions.

CUB is funded through donations, grants, and membership contributions, with all consumer services provided free of charge. The organization is led by Executive Director Annie Levenson-Falk (named in 2016) and Senior Regulatory Advocate Brian Edstrom (joined May 2020), supported by a small team including outreach and communications staff. Headquartered at 332 Minnesota St, Suite W1360, St. Paul, CUB maintains independence from both utility companies and government entities while operating as a formal intervenor in state regulatory proceedings.

Name

Citizens Utility Board of Minnesota

Legal name

Citizens Utility Board of Minnesota

Website

https://cubminnesota.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Citizens Utility Board of Minnesota is an independent nonprofit founded in 2015 that advocates for Minnesota residential utility consumers through free energy bill consultations, shutoff help, and regulatory intervention before the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. It claims over 25,000 Minnesotans helped and $350M+ in ratepayer savings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Utility Consumer Advocacy

NAICS

Regulation and Administration of Communications, Electric, Gas, and Other Utilities (926130), Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (925)

SIC

Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)

akta.pro primary industry

Housing & Neighborhood Services (Local Housing Programs) (BPAIACAJ)

Keywords

• Utility consumer advocacy
• Energy bill assistance
• Regulatory advocacy services
• Utility ratepayer protection
• Nonprofit energy services

Headquarters

HQ city

St. Paul

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: CUB operates as an independent nonprofit and is funded through donations and grants. The organization's services are provided free of charge to Minnesota utility consumers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Citizens Utility Board of Minnesota is a nonprofit advocacy organization that provides free consumer services to Minnesota residential utility ratepayers, including energy bill consultations, the Lights On Homes Warm utility bill assistance fund ($500 flat gifts paid directly to utilities), shutoff help, home energy upgrade guidance (audits, weatherization, replacements, financing), and policy advocacy before the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission and state legislature on behalf of utility consumers.

Product overview

CUB Minnesota operates as a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization rather than a traditional software product company. Its primary offerings are programs and services focused on utility consumer protection: the flagship Lights On, Homes Warm bill assistance fund, free Energy Bill Consultations, and the Shutoff Help resource center. These are complemented by educational resources covering understanding utility bills, efficiency tips, home audits and weatherization, appliance replacements and upgrades, and information on available discounts and financing. CUB also engages in policy advocacy before the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission and legislature, producing published research reports on energy affordability and utility regulation. The organization does not offer a technology platform or SaaS product; rather, its services are delivered through direct consultation, multilingual web resources, printable handouts, and public advocacy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lights On, Homes Warm: A temporary utility bill fund launched by CUB to help Minnesotans struggling with their utility bills, offering $500 flat gifts paid directly to utility providers.

Products and services

• Lights On, Homes Warm

Quantifiable outcome

• Saved ratepayers over $350 million through advocacy against unfair utility charges
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Local Community OrganizationscoreOthersCUB partners with dozens of local community organizations across Minnesota to extend its reach and provide services to diverse communities, including communities of color, immigrant communities, and low-income households.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CUBMN
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cubminnesota
• Instagraminstagram.com/cub_mn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Citizens Utility Board of Minnesota