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.
February 26, 2013: CUB Testimony before Senate Committee
Posted: February 26, 2013 by Leah Steinberg
For Immediate Release: February 26, 2013
CUB Testimony before Senate Committee on Government Operations, Public Works, and Telecommunications
Testimony of Charlie Higley
Executive Director Citizens Utility Board
Before the Senate Committee on Government Operations, Public Works, and Telecommunications
SB 35 Would Reduce Public Disclosure of Proposed Transmission Lines
Good morning Chairman Farrow and members of the committee, and thank you for the opportunity to provide comments of the Citizens Utility Board on SB 35.
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, telecommunications, and water utilities before the Legislature, regulatory agencies, and the courts.
SB 35
CUB is opposed to SB 35 because it would reduce disclosure and the flow of information about proposed transmission lines to communities and landowners potentially affected by the project.
Section 5 would delay when communities and landowners would receive information about proposed transmission lines. Instead of receiving information when companies apply for permission to build a transmission line from the Public Service Commission, the public would receive information about the transmission line much later in the process. This would make it more difficult for the public to find out about proposed transmission lines that could affect their homes and businesses.
Section 6 would eliminate the requirement for the project developer to provide a “detailed project plan” to the Department of Natural Resources at least 60 days before the project developer submits an application to build the project with the Public Service Commission. Though the project developer is still supposed to meet with the DNR to figure out which environmental permits are needed, not having to provide a detailed project plan is another reduction in the flow of information to the public about proposed transmission lines.
Frankly, I don’t really like complaining about legislation. But here’s a bill that could limit disclosure to the public about transmission lines, and CUB wasn’t given a heads up about this legislation.
We assume the American Transmission Company has requested this bill. Yet, they never contacted CUB and explained why the bill is needed. Nor did any of the other utilities that support this bill.
Of course we would be very concerned about changes to public disclosure of utility projects. And CUB wasn’t the only stakeholder left in the dark. Even several utilities were unaware of this legislation.
In my opinion, much hand wringing and opposition could have been dealt with if ATC took the time to inform stakeholders about the legislation. Instead, CUB first became aware of the legislation late on Thursday, Feb. 21. Other stakeholders, too, saw the legislation just late last week. This is poor behavior by ATC, because it shows no respect for other stakeholders on utility issues.
In my opinion, much hand wringing and opposition could have been dealt with if ATC took the time to inform stakeholders about the legislation. Instead, CUB first became aware of the legislation late on Thursday, Feb. 21. Other stakeholders, too, saw the legislation just late last week. This is poor behavior by ATC, because it shows no respect for other stakeholders on utility issues.
Mr. Chairman, this also increases the burden on you and members of your committee—why should you have to deal with grumpy stakeholders when ATC could have informed them about the purpose of the legislation?
Second, all of our concerns were heightened when we learned that this committee will vote on the legislation on Thursday, Feb. 28, two days after this hearing. CUB is concerned that this bill is being pushed through the Legislature too quickly. It was introduced on Feb. 20, a public hearing is being held today, and this committee is supposed to vote on it in two days. This is too fast; legitimate concerns may not be addressed with such a rushed schedule.
And, CUB isn’t the only stakeholder with concerns. We would all be much better served if bills were not rushed through the process.
Thank you for this opportunity to provide comments on SB 35. I would be happy to answer any questions.
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Category: Press Releases Tags: CUB, government, News