XCEL PROPOSES BIG RATE HIKES
Thursday, June 2nd, 2005 -- 11:53 AM
Xcel Energy electric and gas customers should expect an increase in their bills next year. Xcel has filed an application with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin for an increase in base electric and natural gas rates effective January 1, 2006. Under the proposed fee increases, a typical electric customer would see their monthly bill jump $8.19, or 13-percent; their gas bill would jump $4.98, or 6.5-percent, a month.
Brian Elwood of Xcel Energy says the increases are needed because of growth in the northwestern section of Wisconsin.
"From 1994 projected forward to 2010 we'll see about a 27% increase in the number of electric customers we have in northwestern Wisconsin," Elwood says.
"Whenever we have that many new customers, there's obviously more need to have that energy available."
Elwood said the commission will be studying the proposal this summer; a ruling is expected this fall. The increases would affect about 231,000 electric customers and 87,000 natural gas customers.
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