You have a business to run. It is hard to stay on top of things locally let alone at the Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC) where your electric rates are set. That’s where the Citizens Utility Board of Wisconsin comes in. We advocate for all small utility customers from individual citizens to small businesses and farmers for fair, safe and reliable utility service. We monitor the changing energy world and put the utility customer first.
CUB small business members benefit from our team of legislative, utility and communications experts who advocate tirelessly for your business at the Public Service Commission, the state Capitol, in the courts, and at regulatory agencies.
Small Business Membership Benefits:
Advocacy: CUB business membership keeps you up-to-date on issues that matter to you.
- Monthly electronic newsletters highlighting key cases before the PSC, issues before the Legislature, and information to help you control energy costs.
- Action Alerts keep you notified and enable you to get involved, when important decisions are up for hearing/vote.
- CUB works as Your Independent Consumer Voice at the table for small business interests when the PSC sets rates and energy policy.
Empowerment: CUB will help you take action and share your thoughts with Wisconsin government officials.
- Confused by your bill? We can explain it.
- Problem with your utility service and pricing? We will answer questions and help you work with your utility.
- Who makes these decisions anyway? We will show your staff how to interact with the PSC and legislators
Access: CUB can help your organization and employees save resources and money.
- Host a “utility bill clinic” about ways to help residents and businesses save money on their utility bills.
- Promote your support of fair, safe and reliable utility rates with the CUB small business member badge.
Outreach: CUB will help small business members partner with other members and like-minded organizations to bring these issues to the public. CUB staff can answer questions about energy related matters as well as provide free one-on-one utility bill consultations.
Partnership Opportunities: CUB partners with community groups interested in learning about utility issues. We provide presentations on how to understand your utility bills, how the PSC works and how you can get involved. Plus, we can provide information on energy costs you can control. Let us know what you’re interested in, and we’ll do our best to accommodate you.
December 16, 2010: PSC Reduces Rate Hike Requested by WPS
Posted: December 16, 2010 by Leah Steinberg
For Immediate Release: December 16, 2010
PSC Reduces Rate Hike Requested by WPS
MADISON — Today the Public Service Commission reduced the rate hike for electricity sought by Wisconsin Public Service Corp.
In its request filed on April 1, 2010, WPS sought to increase electricity rates by $64.2 million or 6.9 percent. Today’s decision by the PSC reduced the rate request by about $56 million. Nevertheless, electricity rates for WPS customers will increase by about $8 million, or about 1 percent, starting on January 1, 2011.
WPS also sought to increase rates for the delivery of natural gas by $5.0 million, or 1.2 percent. The PSC reduced this request so that delivery rates will decrease by about $8 million, or about 2 percent.
The Citizens Utility Board participated in the proceeding to establish electricity rates for WPS customers. CUB and other parties urged the PSC to reduce return on equity, or profits, that WPS would be authorized to collect from ratepayers. WPS had requested an ROE of 11.25 percent. The PSC set the ROE at 10.3 percent. The reduction in authorized profits will save ratepayers $13.3 million from what WPS requested.
“We’re glad that the PSC was able to make reductions in the rate increase sought by WPS for 2011 rates,” said Charlie Higley, CUB executive director. “CUB argued that WPS’s shareholder profits should be reduced significantly to lower residential customer bills. Utility shareholders should never receive excessive profits, and that is never more true than during these difficult economic times.”
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Category: Press Releases Tags: WPS