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.
November 6, 2014: Saving Money on Your Energy Bill Just Got Harder
Posted: November 6, 2014 by Leah Steinberg
For Immediate Release: November 6, 2014
Saving Money on Your Energy Bill Just Got Harder
MADISON — Today, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, on a 2 to 1 vote, approved an increase of more than 80% for the monthly customer charge paid by all residential and small business electric customers of Wisconsin Public Service Corporation (WPSC).
The Commission’s decision to restructure rates means that the fixed charge found on the bills of all WPSC residential and small business customers will jump from $10.40 to $19 per month effective January 1, 2015. The new fixed charge amount is the highest of any investor-owned utility in the Midwest. The Citizens Utility Board (CUB) fought the utility’s proposal because it harms customers who use less electricity and will result in increased energy costs over the long-term.
“Today’s decision goes in the wrong direction,” said Kira Loehr, CUB executive director. “Instead of taking this opportunity to pause and consider innovative ways to handle changes in the electric industry, the decision takes the step that most helps utilities at the expense of customers. Increasing fixed charges hurts our most vulnerable low and fixed income households and frustrates residential and small business customers’ ability to lower their bills by using less energy. In the face of ever-increasing energy costs, we should all be looking for ways for customers to reduce their energy usage and save money on their electric bills.
Customers pay the fixed monthly customer charge regardless of the amount of electricity they use. Restructuring rates by increasing the fixed portion of bills diminish the ability of customers to control their monthly electric bill through energy efficiency or conservation measures. There is no avoiding the fixed customer charge.
“Increases in the fixed monthly charges are short-sighted and serve mostly to help the utilities’ bottom line. We need solutions that protect the interests of all customers while maintaining reliable electric service at a reasonable cost,” concluded Loehr.
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Category: Press Releases Tags: WPS