(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.”