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 22, 2010: PSC Sets Rates for MGE Lower Than Requested
Posted: December 22, 2010 by Leah Steinberg
For Immediate Release: December 22, 2010
PSC Sets Rates for MGE Lower Than Requested
MADISON – Today the Public Service Commission established rates for Madison Gas & Electric Co. that were lower than the utility requested.
In an application filed on April 22, 2010, MGE requested to increase electric rates by $32.8 million, or 9.4 percent. Today’s decision by the PSC reduced the rate hike to about $8 million. Starting January 1, 2011, electricity rates for MGE customers will increase by about 2.3 percent.
The PSC agreed with CUB to reduce rates by about $1.8 million. MGE was trying to get customers to pay for the costs of running the West Campus Cogeneration Facility during times in 2011 when it may not be economical to do so. MGE expects to run the facility more during 2011 to make up for lost production at the Charter Street plant while it undergoes modification.
CUB and other parties urged the PSC to reduce the profits that ratepayers would have to pay to MGE, which requested a return on equity of 10.4 percent. The PSC set the ROE at 10.3 percent, which will save ratepayers $520 thousand from what MGE requested.
“CUB fought to keep residential customers from paying higher rates when households could least afford it,” said Charlie Higley, executive director of CUB. “We’re glad the PSC was able to reduce the size of MGE’s rate increase to 2.3 percent.”
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Category: Press Releases Tags: MGE