About Us
Our Mission
Consumers for a Better Grid is a watchdog holding grid operators accountable to consumers, states, and a clean, affordable energy future.
What We Do
Consumers for a Better Grid is a program of the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) of Illinois. 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 $20 billion by helping to block rate hikes and secure refunds.
CUB has long recognized that it’s not just utilities that impact our bills—it’s also regional grid operators like PJM and federal regulators like the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). In fact, PJM costs make up over half of the average person’s electricity bill each month. Recognizing the impact of wholesale regional decision-making on residential bills, CUB founded the Consumers for a Better Grid Campaign (formerly CLEAR RTO) in 2022 to promote more consumer-friendly policies for the 67 million electric customers served by PJM Interconnection.
What makes our work unique is that we advocate for consumers both within and outside of PJM. As a formal member of PJM, we’re one of the only organizations working to advance and monitor proposals to ensure consumers’ interests are protected, and our role as a watchdog is critical, given the undue influence of big power companies at PJM. The Consumers for a Better Grid Campaign also fights for consumers across the PJM region and at the federal level by collaborating with partner organizations and engaging regulators and legislators, both raising awareness of PJM’s impact on electricity costs and promoting state-level policies to protect everyday people.
Our Impact
PJM is notoriously resistant to change, but in just the short few years since we’ve started our campaign, we’ve made important progress fighting for consumers. Here are just a few highlights of our impact:
In the PJM stakeholder process: advanced a proposal to require PJM to consider alternatives to propping up aging fossil fuel plants.
In state legislatures: supported the development of and testified to support the passage of PJM transparency bills in 4 states.
At the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission: successfully fought a power grab by Transmission Owners that would have removed oversight and increased spending on less-efficient transmission projects.
In the courts: submitted an Amicus brief at the Supreme Court of the United States to protect the ability of federal regulators to assess penalties against bad actors.
That’s just a slice of what we do. Keep up to date with our newsletter, and check out our 2024 and 2025 Years in Review.
Our Team
Clara Summers is Consumers for a Better Grid’s Campaign Director. She came to the position from the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators, where she organized state legislators to engage with PJM. Clara has also held previous roles at Earthjustice, the Fulbright Program/American Indonesian Exchange Foundation, and Interfaith Power & Light (MD.DC.NoVA). Clara has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington, a Master’s degree and Graduate Certificate from American University, and a Graduate Certificate in Public Utility Regulation and Economics from New Mexico State University. She is based in the greater DC area and joined the Illinois CUB team in 2023. When not deep in the weeds of energy policy, she enjoys the performing arts and anything to do with koalas. Clara can be reached at csummers@citizensutilityboard.org
Emilie Lozier is an Outreach Specialist for the Consumers for a Better Grid campaign, where she applies her background in science, policy, and labor organizing to empower ratepayers to fight for a grid that serves their interests. Before starting at the campaign, in June of 2026, Emilie earned her BA in Chemistry and French at Oberlin and her PhD in Chemistry at Northwestern. In her free time, she enjoys woodworking, playing rec softball, and coaching club rugby in the Chicago area. Emilie can be reached at elozier@citizensutilityboard.org
Kristen Billings joined the Consumers for a Better Grid campaign as a Communications Coordinator in June of 2026. She draws on her experience as an environmental journalist, communications practitioner, and qualitative researcher to help raise awareness of the role RTOs play in shaping the grid and promote advocacy for a cleaner, more affordable, more democratic energy system. Outside of work, she enjoys biking around and exploring Chicago and spending time with her two dogs, Scout and Theo. Kristen can be reached at kbillings@citizensutilityboard.org
The Citizens Utility Board (CUB) of Illinois 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 $20 billion by helping to block rate hikes and secure refunds.
