Utility Consumers Action Network
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 111 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO CONSUMERS AND UTILITY RATEPAYERS AND REPRESENT RATEPAYER INTERESTS BEFORE REGULATORY BODIES IN ADMINISTRATIVE AS WELL AS JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS. UCAN INTERVENES IN UTILITY CASES BEFORE THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION, ADVOCATES POLICY INITIATIVES, EDUCATES, AND GUARDS AGAINST CORPORATE ABUSES.
- Income
- $326,497
- Spending
- $573,102
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- 6.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 96%
- Employees
- 5
- Volunteers
- 4
- Highest pay
- $140,734, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 13% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 76% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 73% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1588% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 111 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
18 of 254 of 4 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (2)
- $460,081 spent. LITIGATION - (REGULATORY ADVOCACY) - UCAN ADVOCATES FOR UTILITY RATEPAYERS IN THE AREAS OF ENERGY, WATER AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS. UCAN ACCOMPLISHES THIS BY PARTICIPATING IN REGULATORY PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION (CPUC), THE AGENCY THAT REGULATES INVESTOR OWNED UTILITY SERVICES, AS WELL AS OTHER REGULATORY AND ADMINISTRATIVE BODIES. UCAN'S EMPLOYEES AND EXPERTS HAVE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERIENCE ON COMPLICATED REGULATORY AND UTILITY RATEPAYER ISSUES. THIS EXPERIENCE ALLOWS US TO PARTICIPATE IN LEGAL PROCEEDINGS, CONDUCT DISCOVERY, CROSS EXAMINE UTILITY WITNESSES, FILE BRIEFS AND SUBMIT COMMENTS TO PROPOSED REGULATORY DECISIONS ADVOCATING FOR STRONG UTILITY RATEPAYER PROTECTIONS FOR RESIDENTIAL AND SMALL BUSINESS UTILITY CUSTOMERS.
- $45,502 spent. CONSUMER EDUCATION AND COMPLAINTS - WITH THE HELP OF STAFF, LEGAL INTERNS, AND VOLUNTEERS, UCAN PROVIDES ADVOCACY ANDEDUCATION FOR ANY CONSUMER CALLING IN FOR HELP REGARDING UTILITY ISSUES. THESE ISSUES INCLUDE UTILITY SHUT-OFFS, BURDENSOME UTILITY PRACTICES, BILLING AND SERVICE DISPUTES. UCAN MEDIATES WITH CONSUMERS AND THEIR UTILITY PROVIDERS TO RESTORE SERVICES AND NEGOTIATE BILLING AND SERVICE DISAGREEMENTS. UCAN EDUCATES CONSUMERS ON PROPER WAYS TO DISPUTE SERVICE ISSUES AND AVOID DISCONNECTION OF SERVICES. UCAN ASSISTS CONSUMERS TO FIND APPROPRIATE UTILITY PROVIDERS AND LEARN ABOUT WAYS TO LOWER BILLS. UCAN MAINTAINS A DETAILED WEBSITE WITH INFORMATION ABOUT UTILITY ISSUES, WHICH HAS AN INTERACTIVE REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE FORM.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 1984.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.