Citizens Utility Board of Ohio

What it reported doing in 2024

Cub Ohio conducted public education programs on behalf of Ohio residential and small business utility consumers, engaging consumers, the general public, community leaders, and state and local government leaders. With more than 1,000 members across the state in the service territory of all four investor-owned utilities and that of many rural co-ops and municipal utilities, cub Ohio served as a consumer education voice for cheaper bills, reliable service, transparency, consumer rights, and clean, healthy energy delivered equitably. We educate business leaders on deployment of new technologies and energy innovation in a manner that can reduce pollution, address the climate crisis, combat systemic racism, and increase environmental justice. Cub Ohio intervened in multiple legal dockets at the public utilities commission of Ohio to lower consumer costs and lower emissions; educated municipal leaders about municipal utility policy and best practices, and educated state leaders about solar energy; energy efficiency, and lowering consumer costs by removing legacy subsidies. As part of our work with local governments, we facilitated implementation of inflation reduction act funds by local governments to develop clean energy project proposals and pursue grant funds for capital to make them possible-infrastructure that can position them to achieve carbon reduction goals for themselves, and their residents and/or customers. As part of cub Ohio's public education work, we engaged with news reporters, talk radio programs, and editorial pages across the state resulting in higher public attention to these issues.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 53.6%; rating input score 54
• Program expense ratio: 79.2%; rating input score 79
• Fundraising efficiency: $18.18 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 56; 56th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 5 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 62
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 33%; rating input score 86; 86th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.46; rating input score 55; 55th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.44; rating input score 18; 18th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 24.5%; rating input score 10; 10th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 24.2% per year; rating input score 100; 86th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 21.4% per year; rating input score 100; 87th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 24.3% per year; rating input score 100; 86th percentile among comparable filings