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.
May 25, 2011: Testimony relating to electric rates promoting economic development
Posted: May 25, 2011 by Leah Steinberg
For Immediate Release: May 25, 2011
Testimony regarding AB 145, relating to electric
rates to promote economic development
The Honorable Mark Honadel
Chairman, Assembly Committee on Energy and Utilities
Wisconsin State Capitol
Madison, Wisconsin
RE: Testimony regarding AB 145, relating to electric rates to promote economic development.
Dear Chairman Honadel:
Thank you for this opportunity to testify regarding AB 145, relating to electric rates to promote economic development.
The Citizens Utility Board is a member-supported, nonprofit organization that advocates for reliable and affordable utility service. CUB represents the interests of residential, farm, and small business customers of electric, natural gas, and telecommunication utilities before the Legislature, regulatory agencies, and the courts.
CUB does not support AB 145 because it would undo century-old requirements that utility rates be just, reasonable and non-discriminatory. Under the guise of economic development, large industrial customers could get significant discounts on their electric bills to be paid for by all other customers.
CUB is opposed to this legislation, because these discounted rates will force residential and small business customers
to pay higher rates to subsidize industrial customers that receive the discounted rate. This bill would create a tax to be paid for by residents and small businesses, with the tax revenues handed out to large industrial customers and utility shareholders.
Forcing customers to pay higher rates while others receive discounts is inherently unfair, and has been illegal under Wisconsin law for more than 100 years. For example, utilities cannot give discounted rates to one set of customers when other customers receive similar service and do not receive the discount. Wis. Stat. 196.60, created in 1907. If the Public Service Commission finds that any rate is unjustly discriminatory or preferential, it must determine and order a just and reasonable rate to be used instead. Wis. Stat. 196.37, also created in 1907.
AB 145 turns a blind eye to these statutes and carves out exemptions for these unjust, unreasonable, and discriminatory rates. See p. 6, lines 3-4 of the bill. Though allowing discriminatory rates for one subset of customers is bad enough, the legislation also allows the utilities to increase their profits at the expense of other customers. Page 6, lines 5-9 of the bill forces the cost of a discount onto the utility’s other customers. In fact, the utility will get a windfall if a new customer moves into the utility’s territory or an existing customer increases its energy usage because of the discounted rate. These extra funds are pure profit for the utility.
All customers are hurting in this recession. Why is it fair to raise rates for residents and small businesses so that discounts can be given to others, and utilities can make extra profits? We urge you to oppose this legislation, which will cause rates to increase for residential and small business customers.
Sincerely,
Charlie Higley
Executive Director
May 25, 2011
###
Category: Press Releases Tags: government