CUB Prints

(aka our blog)

Help CUB ‘Make Change Happen’ in The Big Share 2024
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CUB is looking for supporters from across the state to support our work during The Big Share 2024 on March 5th. By participating, you can help CUB and other nonprofits work to “Make Change Happen.” That’s the theme for The Big Share, a one-day outpouring of giving in which hundreds of thousands of dollars are…

Keep Competitive Bidding for Power Line Projects
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March 13 UPDATE: The state Senate adjourned Tuesday without voting on this bill, meaning it failed to pass. CUB thanks our members and supporters who called their legislators to voice their opposition to this bill! See news coverage here. Wisconsin’s utilities are pushing hard to pass “Right of First Refusal” legislation, AB 470 and SB…

Customer Input Sought on New Energy Rebates
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Public input is being sought to help Wisconsin’s Focus on Energy program establish a new incentive program for home energy saving rebates tied to the Inflation Reduction Act.  Wisconsin has been allocated $149 million in rebates, thanks to the IRA. These rebates cover both a home energy efficiency rebate program as well as an instant…

PSC to We Energies: More Savings Needed for Customers When Coal Plants Shut Down
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MADISON – State regulators sent a clear signal: We Energies needs to increase savings for customers as it transitions away from coal-fired power.The state Public Service Commission on Tuesday asked We Energies to prepare a comprehensive analysis on how to save customers money as coal plants retire prematurely in the transition to cleaner fuels.“All utilities…

WPS Electric Rates to Come Down in 2024
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MADISON – State regulators on Tuesday approved a reduction in 2024 electricity rates for customers of Wisconsin Public Service Corp. in northeastern and northern Wisconsin.The state Public Service Commission authorized additional costs for new generation projects the utility has built but those costs were offset by declining fuel costs expected in 2024.In a few areas,…

Alliant Rate Hike Approved, PSC Demands Savings When Coal Plants Retire
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MADISON – Wisconsin utility regulators on Thursday approved a sizable increase in electric rates for customers of Alliant Energy but sent a strong message that they want to see more savings in the years ahead on coal plants that are being shut down as part of the energy transition.CUB’s regulatory team put a spotlight on…

Xcel rate increase pared back, PSC denies higher profits
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MADISON — Customers of Xcel Energy will see a much smaller increase on electric bills come January after state regulators sided with CUB and voted to block the company’s request to hike its profits.The Public Service Commission could have gone further in reducing profits, which would have enabled customers to see a decrease on their…

PSC Trims MGE Rate Hike, Signals Concern on Customer Affordability
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MADISON – Utility regulators voted Friday to reduce the size of Madison Gas & Electric’s rate increase for customers and take a small but important step to trim the utility’s high profits. CUB’s regulatory team put a spotlight on affordability, energy burden, and fairness in this case. Throughout the proceeding, CUB cited concerns about how…

Another costly winter ahead: Take steps now to save
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Winter heating costs will be high this winter, if not quite as high as last winter. The National Energy Assistance Directors Association’s winter outlook shows that homes heating with natural gas could pay $726 just for heating over the six-month heating season, making it the second costliest winter in the past decade. A separate report…

Rate Cases: CUB Weighs in for Lower Monopoly Profits, More Consumer Protections
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Profits for monopoly utilities in Wisconsin have been too high for too long, with customers paying the price. That was the core message in testimony the Citizens Utility Board of Wisconsin (CUB) submitted to push back on utilities’ requests to raise rates yet again starting January 2024. Bringing down high profits is an important step…

Annual Report: Savings and Advocacy Deliver for Customers
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For CUB 2022 was a year of collaboration, much media attention, and additional savings for customers of Wisconsin utilities. The Citizens Utility Board of Wisconsin annual report for 2022 is out and can be viewed online here or by clicking on the photo below.We made progress on reducing fixed charges on customers’ bills. The PSC…

Rate hike hearings under way, public comments sought
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Now is the time to weigh in on the rate increases monopoly utility customers may face over the next two years.  Four major utilities serving Wisconsin customers seek increases on bills that, if approved, would take effect Jan. 1. A fifth, Wisconsin Public Service, while still proposing to increase base rates, anticipates that increase would…