By Benjamin Yount | The Center Square contributor
(The Center Square) – An outgoing Republican lawmaker is blasting Wisconsin’s utility regulators for again giving some of the state’s utilities a rate increase.
Sen. Rob Cowles, R-Green Bay, accused the Wisconsin Public Service Commission of giving We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service “‘unchecked, unaccountable, and unnecessary rate hikes.”
“For too long, ratepayer interests have taken a backseat at the PSC as the WPS and We Energies have been allowed to run roughshod over Wisconsinites,” Cowles said.
Last week, the Public Service Commission approved increases that will add less than $10 a month to We Energies bills for 2025 and will add more than $7 per-month for WPS customers next year.
The PSC also approved similar-sized increases for 2026 as well.
“[The Commission’s] decisions to hike rates for WPS and We Energies customers is only the latest in a long line of decisions based around their relationships with the utilities, not based around public service and responsible regulation,” Cowles said in a statement. “The Commissioners’ relationships are forcing everyday Wisconsinites to make difficult budgeting decisions as energy costs grow faster than the rate of inflation with no signs of slowing down. If the PSC is going to so blatantly allow Wisconsinites to suffer so that WPS and We Energies’ shareholders can prosper, the Commission should at least be honest with themselves and put up a ‘For Sale’ sign in their offices.”
Cowles accused commissioners of ignoring the struggles of thousands of Wisconsinites.
“At a time when the national discourse surrounds rising costs and household budgets, the Commissioners seem disconnected from reality as they rubber stamp shareholder interests. Governors of both parties have appointed Commissioners that care more about their utility friends than the public they serve, and most state Senators from both parties have allowed these Governors, the Commissioners, and the utilities to get away with it,” Cowles said.
We Energies and WPS told the PSC it needs the rate hikes to keep-up with the cost of transitioning to green energy.
“We appreciate the commission’s vote (Thursday) in support of our investments to reduce customer outages, build critical infrastructure needed to support jobs and economic growth in Wisconsin and meet EPA environmental rules,” We Energies said after last week’s vote.
The rate increases are not as high as We Energies and WPS originally asked for. For example, We Energies asked for a 19% increase, the PSC gave them a 14% increase.
Cowles is not the only one criticizing the Public Service Commission, or the rate hikes.
Wisconsin’s Sierra Club also blasted the price hikes for customers.
“We are disappointed in this decision, but we’re not going to stop fighting to put people first. We appreciate the Commission scrutinizing We Energies’ claims about the needs for this increase. We Energies’ poor investment in fossil fuels have put us in this place. Going forward, we hope to see the Commission continue to investigate We Energies’ claims about the needs of its customers,” the Sierra Club’s Cassie Steiner said after the rate hike vote. “For so many people, higher utility bills mean greater financial strain for everyday needs– from affording rent or their mortgage, to being able to put food on the table for their family. People shouldn’t have to choose between affording groceries and keeping the lights on.”
Syndicated with permission from The Center Square.
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