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 18, 2015: Green Bay Utility to Charge Customers if They Never Turn Their Lights On
Posted: May 18, 2015 by Leah Steinberg
For Immediate Release: May 18, 2015
CUB: Green Bay Utility Wants to Charge Customers
$300 a Year Even if They Never Turn Their Lights On
MADISON — On Friday, May 15, 2015, Wisconsin Public Service Corporation released another proposal to increase residential and small business fixed customer charges for electric and natural gas service. WPSC plans to set its monthly fixed customer charge at $25 for electric service and $20 for natural gas service. The fixed customer charge is billed every month in addition to the rate paid per kilowatt hour or therm.
In January 2015, WPSC increased its fixed electric charge by more than 80%, from $10.40 to $19.00 per month. Now, just 5 months later, WPSC wants to increase that monthly charge another $6.00, or 30%. If the new proposal is approved by the Public Service Commission, a WPSC electric customer will pay $300 a year even if they never turn their lights on.
“This proposal is bad for customers trying to conserve energy and reduce their bills, and it hurts customers already struggling on fixed incomes,” said Kira Loehr, CUB’s Executive Director and General Counsel. In addition to WPSC’s plan to hike fixed customer charges, WPSC wants to increase electricity rates by more than $96 million in 2016. If that increase is approved, residential and small business customers would see their 2016 electric bills increase by about 10% compared to current bills.
CUB is opposed to WPSC’s fixed customer charge and rate increase proposals. CUB encourages customers to submit comments voicing their opposition by visiting the Public Service Commission’s website http://psc.wi.gov, then clicking on the “Public Comments” button and selecting docket 6690-UR-124 “WPSC Rate increase request” at the bottom of the screen.
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Category: Press Releases Tags: WPS