Public Service Commission of Wisconsin Again Considering Changing Rates for State's Biggest Utilities
Wednesday, October 18th, 2023 -- 10:00 AM
(By Joe Schulz, Wisconsin Public Radio) The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin is again considering changing rates for two of the state’s biggest utilities, in one case looking to lower rates, after it approved hikes last year.
According to Joe Schulz with Wisconsin Public Radio, state regulators recently held public hearings in rate cases for We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service, both owned by WEC Energy Group.
They come after the Public Service Commission, or PSC, last year approved electric rate increases of 8.8 percent for We Energies and 9 percent for Wisconsin Public Service, or WPS.
This spring, We Energies asked to increase electric rates by 2.5 percent in 2024, and WPS asked to decrease electric rates by 2.3 percent. PSC audits recommended a 2.28 percent increase for We Energies electric rates in Wisconsin, and a 3.15 percent decrease for WPS.
Under the company’s proposal, WEC Energy Group spokesperson Brendan Conway said average monthly electric bills for We Energies customers would increase by about $4 and decrease for WPS customers by about $2.
For natural gas, We Energies is proposing different increases for its two gas utilities, Wisconsin Electric Gas Operations and Wisconsin Gas. Wisconsin Electric Gas asked for a 4.5 percent rate increase, while the PSC audit recommended a 4.04 percent increase.
Wisconsin Gas asked for a 2.9 percent increase, but the audit recommended 2.52 percent. WPS did not request changing its natural gas rates. Conway said this year's rate cases stem from last year's actions, when the PSC authorized WEC to seek recovery from investments going into service in 2023 and 2024, as well as operations and maintenance costs at retiring coal plants.
A few of the projects factored in include the second phase of the Badger Hollow Solar Park and the Paris Solar-Battery Park.
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