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.
Tallying Up Savings So Far From Utility Tax Cuts
Posted: August 25, 2018 by Tom Content
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 over $67 million.
Tax reform reduced utilities’ corporate tax rate to 21% from 35% at the end of 2017, and all of Wisconsin’s utilities started 2018 with rates that were too high because they were assuming the higher 35% tax rate.
So, at a time when we continue to be concerned that Wisconsin’s electric rates are higher than the national average and above the Midwest average, we’re glad to see that money is making its way back to you.
The amount coming back varies by utility but we’re happy to report that utilities in Madison and Eau
Claire are returning 100% of their tax savings to you, the customer. We would have liked to have seen the tax savings returned more consistently across the state. If that had been the case, even more money would have flowed back to customers of utilities in Milwaukee and Green Bay.
Here’s the breakdown:
Smaller utilities also issued another $1.5 million in refunds, including $680,000 for customers of Superior Water, Light and Power; $148,000 for Dahlberg Light and Power; $268,000 for Northwestern Wisconsin Electric Co.; and $220,000 for Consolidated Water Power Co.; and 161,000 for Midwest Natural Gas; and $59,000 for City Gas Co.
Source: Filings in PSC docket 5-AF-101
Category: Utility News