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.
Tag: PSC
Big Rate Hikes Sought for We Energies, WPS
Posted: April 29, 2022 by Tom Content
Half of Wisconsin’s utility customers are facing big rate hikes in 2023 after We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service filed proposals Thursday to increase rates by more than 8% and 6%. This comes at a time when energy prices are already being affected by global market factors that have raised the price of natural gas, …
Category: CUB Blog, Utility Cases, Utility News Tags: affordability, clean energy transition, coal, energy burden, energy security, MGE, natural gas, PSC, rates, solar, we energies, WEPCO, Wisconsin Gas, Wisconsin Public Service, WPS
PSC Approves Costly Natural Gas Plant
Posted: March 31, 2022 by Tom Content
State regulators on Thursday voted 2-to-1 to approve a proposal from Milwaukee and Green Bay utilities to build a new natural gas power plant at a cost of $171 million. The Citizens Utility Board urged the Public Service Commission to vote against the plant, citing concerns over the utilities’ overly optimistic assumptions about future natural …
Category: Index Slider, Press Releases, Utility Cases, Utility News Tags: affordability, coal, CUB, energy transition, natural gas, PSC, rate trends, we energies, WEPCO, WPS
Power Plant Projects Need Rigorous Review
Posted: January 20, 2022 by Tom Content
As 2022 starts we are gearing up for a big year with a high-profile rate case involving the two utilities owned by WEC Energy Group, We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service. While we prepare for that, it hasn’t been a quiet time in the PSC case arena. Our regulatory team is focused on plans for building new power …
Category: CUB Blog, Utility Cases, Utility News Tags: affordability, battery storage, MGE, PSC, rates, renewable energy, solar, we energies, wind, WPS
Making Strides in a Tough Year: 2021 CUB Annual Report
Posted: August 30, 2021 by Tom Content
CUB’s annual report highlights savings for customers, advocacy for those less fortunate during the pandemic and our work to position CUB for stability and strength in the years ahead. The 2020 Annual Report, available here, provides a snapshot of what Your Independent Consumer Voice worked on during the pandemic. The report thanks loyal CUB members …
Category: CUB Blog, CUB Events, CUB News, Index Slider, Uncategorized Tags: Annual Report, CUB, CUB News, PSC
Consumer Advocacy In Wisconsin Takes Leap Forward
Posted: April 1, 2021 by Tom Content
MADISON, APRIL 1, 2021 — The Citizens Utility Board of Wisconsin on Thursday released the following statement after Gov. Tony Evers signed Assembly Bill 27 into law as Wisconsin Act 24. The law, which the Legislature passed with unanimous bipartisan support this month, enables stable funding for CUB’s work as the consumer advocate for homeowners, …
Category: CUB News, Press Releases Tags: CUB, CUB founding, Legislature, PSC
Bill Passage Strengthens Advocacy for Utility Customers
Posted: March 23, 2021 by Tom Content
A plan to help level the playing field between consumers and utilities when it comes to advocacy for fairness and affordability is on the way to Gov. Tony Evers’ desk, after the state Senate unanimously endorsed it in a voice vote Tuesday. The bill, AB 27 and SB 47, received widespread bipartisan support, with unanimous …
Category: CUB News, Index Slider, Press Releases Tags: CUB, CUB founding, CUB News, Legislature, PSC
What’s Ahead for CUB in 2021
Posted: January 27, 2021 by Tom Content
Affordability. Fairness. Equity. Safety. These are front and center for CUB as we gear up for another year as the voice for small businesses, homeowners and renters across Wisconsin. Let’s take a quick look at the trends we’re seeing for 2021 affecting the energy and utility landscape. First off, the pandemic. As we all continue …
Category: CUB Blog, CUB News, Index Slider, Utility Cases, Utility News Tags: clean energy transition, COVID-19, PSC, rate trends
November 14, 2019: PSC Misses Opportunity to Protect WPS Customers from Weston 3 Overruns
Posted: November 21, 2019 by Tom Content
The Public Service Commission on Thursday missed a great opportunity to secure savings for utility customers in northeastern and north central Wisconsin. The rate decision by the PSC will require utility customers to pay for cost overruns plus profit totaling $89 million on a pollution control project that went 24% over budget. The project at …
Category: Press Releases, Utility Cases, Utility News Tags: coal, overruns, PSC, Weston 3, WPS
US Rankings: Power Prices in Wis. Are Out of Whack
Posted: July 31, 2018 by Tom Content
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 …
Category: Utility News Tags: PSC
April 16, 2014: CUB Sues PSC – Rate Discrimination Alleged
Posted: April 16, 2014 by Leah Steinberg
For Immediate Release: April 16, 2014 CUB Sues PSC – Rate Discrimination Alleged MADISON — Today, the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) filed a lawsuit challenging a Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (Commission) decision that would force We Energies’ electric ratepayers to pay more than $250 million to subsidize big business steam customers in downtown Milwaukee. …
Category: Press Releases Tags: PSC