GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The base rate to heat your home and provide electricity could be going up nearly 15% next year, but your testimony over the next few days could change the final rate decisions for 2023.
The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin has the final say on the rates companies like Wisconsin Public Service charge you for service.
The commission held public hearings at the Neville Public Museum Tuesday afternoon and evening to gather testimony before setting rates for next year. You can submit testimony online, but you only have until Thursday to submit it.
“Turn the heat off in the winter in this city? You can’t do it,” Green Bay resident Douglas Cayer told the commission at the afternoon public hearing.
Cayer told the Public Service Commission he’s been self-employed for 50 years, and he doesn’t have the luxury to raise his rates 15% like Wisconsin Public Service is currently proposing for its residential customers next year.
“Sometimes, I have to just eat my profit in order to sustain,” said Cayer.
Local lawmakers from both sides of the aisle told the commission the rate hike has their constituents furious and concerned.
“The idea that now is the time for a massive utility and gas rate increase is incredibly naïve to the reality throughout WPS’ service territory,” said State Sen. Rob Cowles, R-Green Bay.
Wisconsin Public Service points out it’s requesting its third base rate increase in eight years to help provide a cleaner, more reliable product.
In April, WPS proposed about a $6 per month increase for its base residential rate in 2023. The request has since doubled to $14.51 more each month.
“Some of the reasons behind what our proposal, why that changed from April to now, is technical,” said Matt Cullen, a spokesperson for WPS. “We’ve had an increase in the cost of natural gas and an increase in the cost of coal, and that has been factored into our proposal.”
Cullen also notes the company has agreed to donate $4 million to Keep Wisconsin Warm and to maintain an earning share mechanism that returned $67 million to customers over the past three years.
WEC Energy Group, the parent company for WPS, reported a $302 million profit in the third quarter, which brings its total to $1.16 billion so far this year. WEC is also the parent company for We Energies, which is proposing similar rate hikes to WPS.
Citizens Utility Board of Wisconsin says the commission should lower energy companies’ set profit rate by a percent and shift more of the increase to companies.
The proposed rate increase for commercial businesses is 7.3%, about half of what is proposed for residents, 14.7%.
“The largest corporations in our area will see a softened blow, while our working class families will have to decide between eating, keeping a roof over their head and the lights on,” said State Rep. Kristina Shelton, D-Green Bay. “That is the choice we have today.”
The commission is expected to set the rates by the end of the year.
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