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 8, 2011: CUB Helped Save Xcel Customers More Than $3.5 Million
Posted: December 8, 2011 by Leah Steinberg
For Immediate Release: December 8, 2011
CUB Helped Save Xcel Customers More Than $3.5 Million
MADISON – The Public Service Commission today approved new electric and natural gas rates for Xcel Energy, which will take effect on January 1, 2012. The Citizens Utility Board participated in the case, and made suggestions that reduced the rate increases by more than $3.5 million.
Xcel had sought an increase in electric rates for 2012 of $29.2 million, or 5.1 percent; and an increase in the rates for the delivery of natural gas of $8.0 million, or 6.6 percent (the natural gas itself is purchased by the utility in open markets and the cost is passed onto customers). The PSC today approved an increase in electric rates of about $12 million, or about 2 percent, and in the delivery costs of natural gas by about $7.7 million, or about 6 percent.
As part of its request to increase electric rates, Xcel sought a return on equity, or profit, of 10.75 percent. CUB and others suggested a much lower level of profit. The PSC agreed to keep Xcel’s return on equity at the current level of 10.4 percent, resulting in a savings to ratepayers of $2.6 million from what Xcel requested.
The PSC also agreed with CUB regarding the appropriate way to forecast wholesale market prices for electricity, resulting in a savings to ratepayers of nearly $1 million.
Recently, Xcel reached a settlement with the U.S. Department of Energy regarding the federal government’s failure to take responsibility for nuclear waste at Xcel’s nuclear plants. The PSC agreed with Xcel and CUB to give Wisconsin ratepayers $13 million of the settlement, which will appear on upcoming bills as a one-time credit.
“The PSC made good decisions today that will result in a smaller increase in electric rates than what Xcel had been seeking,” said Charlie Higley, CUB executive director. “CUB and others argued for ways to lower the size of the rate increase, and the PSC thankfully followed the advice.”
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Category: Press Releases Tags: Xcel