Now is the opportunity for We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service customers to make their voice heard in rate cases that will set utility prices for 2023.
Public hearings will take place next week in Green Bay and Milwaukee, and the time to submit written comments will close soon after those hearings.
The hearings come as new information has surfaced about the size of the increase customers face.
Check out our podcast with important information about the public hearings and CUB’s perspective on these big rate increases.
We Energies and WPS initially estimated that residential customers’ rates would increase 5% to 6%, or about $6 a month. That would have been lower than the overall average increase.
However, the utilities are now favoring big corporations’ bid for a smaller increase, while saddling residential customers with much larger than average increases of more than 13% for We Energies customers and more than 14% for WPS customers.
CUB has expressed dismay to the Public Service Commission in our testimony and legal briefs in the case. Simply put, forcing residential customers to bear the brunt of this year’s increase should not happen.
That’s just not fair.
Our testimony also focused on the fact that utility profits have been way too high for far too long, and that the PSC needs to balance the interests of customers and shareholders.
That’s CUB’s message.
Forcing residential customers to bear the brunt of this year’s increase should not happen, and the utilities have pulled the rug out from under the residential customers by switching positions, from initially favoring residential customers with a smaller increase, to now making residential customers shoulder a much higher than average increase.
But now it’s your turn.
Here are the details:
Show up at the PSC public hearing or file a public comment before the deadline!
WPS Customers
What: Public Hearing on case 6690-UR-127
When: 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1
Where: Neville Public Museum, 210 Museum Place, Green Bay
Comment in Writing: If WPS customers cannot attend, file a public comment online by Thursday, Nov. 3 on the PSC Public Comments page: https://apps.psc.wi.gov/ERF/ERF/comment/filecomment.aspx?util=6690&case=UR&num=127
We Energies (Wisconsin Electric and Wisconsin Gas) Customers
What: Public Hearing on case 5-UR-110
When: 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3
Where: Washington Park Senior Center, 4420 W. Vliet St., Milwaukee
Comment in Writing: If We Energies customers cannot attend, to file a comment online by Monday, Nov. 14 on the PSC Public Comments page: https://apps.psc.wi.gov/ERF/ERF/comment/filecomment.aspx?util=5&case=UR&num=110
Some pointers you may want to keep in mind:
- Either show up at the public hearing or submit a comment online – don’t do both.
- Keep your comments focused and to the point
- Talk about how these increases will affect you, your household finances, and your pocketbook in the context of the other cost pressures you and your family are facing.
- Telling your own story in your own words is what matters most.
