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.
Posted: May 24, 2019 by Tom Content
WEC residential customers targeted for big rate hikes
We knew this was likely to be a big year of controversy with the We Energies rate case. Now we know what We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service are looking for with the filing of the second phase of their applications. Now we know that they want to push most of the price hikes onto …
Posted: April 12, 2019 by Tom Content
April 11, 2019: PSC trims costs to customers as it endorses biggest solar projects in state history
The Citizens Utility Board of Wisconsin on Thursday welcomed a decision by state regulators that paves the way for the largest solar projects in state history while also protecting utility customers from costly overruns. By a 2-0 vote, the PSC endorsed both the 300-megawatt Badger Hollow solar project in Iowa County as well as the …
Posted: December 20, 2018 by Tom Content
PSC endorses $128 million ‘Rent-a-Roof’ pilot for We Energies
The Public Service Commission adopted a solar program for We Energies on Thursday that could cost customers more than $128 million over the next 30 years and increase rates by nearly $8 million in the first year of operation. The PSC approved a program known as Solar Now that would allow We Energies to own the solar …
Posted: November 16, 2018 by Tom Content
Finding Your Voice – What’s Your Role in our Energy Democracy?
The new issue of Wisconsin People & Ideas magazine features an insightful look at Wisconsin’s complex energy system, breaking it down and explaining it in an accessible way. The article and a cool online feature by the academy help to simplify the wide variety of utilities that operate in the state and how they’re structured. Importantly, the …
Posted: November 15, 2018 by Tom Content
CUB Releases ‘Quick Guide to Stop Scams’
Scam artists posing as collection agents continue to prey on utility customers across Wisconsin. This fall, a We Energies customer in Waukesha County was victimized by a scam and bilked out of $1,300. And the Milwaukee utility reported more than 600 scam attempts in a month’s time this fall. These scams come in waves, hitting utilities …
Posted: October 31, 2018 by Tom Content
PSC Requires Recovery Plan for Madison Water Utility
In approving a rate hike for Madison Water Utility (MWU) customers, the state Public Service Commission (PSC) took the unusual move to require the utility to submit a plan to shore up its finances and reduce its reliance on borrowing. The state regulators decided that Madison Water Utility will have to more closely monitor its …
Posted: September 26, 2018 by Tom Content
Settlements Approved: Give and Take Lead to Good Deals for Customers
We’ve got good news for customers of utilities based in Madison, thanks to settlements CUB and other stakeholders have negotiated with utilities. In August, state regulators unanimously approved a settlement that will keep rates stable for the next two years for Wisconsin Power and Light, the Alliant Energy utility based in Madison. Then, just last …
Posted: August 25, 2018 by Tom Content
Tallying Up Savings So Far From Utility Tax Cuts
Over the past few months Wisconsin’s major utilities have refunded tens of millions of dollars to you, passing along tax savings from corporate tax reform legislation that was enacted last year. Based on recent reports filed with the state Public Service Commission, the total amount given back already, primarily on July’s monthly bills, is well …
Posted: July 31, 2018 by Tom Content
US Rankings: Power Prices in Wis. Are Out of Whack
Last year, when I took over as executive director of the Citizens Utility Board the first thing I did was find out the price Wisconsin pays for electricity compared with other states. These stats aren’t hard to find, if you know where to look. But what I found wasn’t easy to take. Wisconsin customers are …