WE Energies rates increase: make your comments and recommendations known.

   (adapted version)

By: Kaylee Staral

Posted at 10:47 PM, Oct 06, 2023

 

and last updated 10:47 PM, Oct 06, 2023

MILWAUKEE COUNTY — 

“Things have leveled out. The prices are much lower and now customers will have some relief,” Brendan Conway, a spokesperson for We Energies, said.

Conway added that now is the best time to make sure your furnace is running efficiently and to secure any windows. Those are things he said will also lower the heating bill. However, the utility is also proposing an increase to residential electricity costs in 2024. This would be the second rate filing in the past eight years, according to Conway.

The utility is requesting a 2.5% increase for electric rates, a 2.9% increase for Wisconsin Gas LLC natural gas rates, and a 4.5% increase for Wisconsin Electric Gas Operations natural gas rates. If approved, the standard residential electric customer would pay less than four more dollars a month starting in January, Conway said.

“It’s for clean energy. We’re bringing a lot of renewable energy online but those costs need to be covered,” Conway explained. “Some of those costs are being incurred right now, but we estimate over 20 years, customers will save over two billion dollars.”

The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) is reviewing the proposal and will make a decision before the end of 2023.

We Energies’ 2024 rate proposals will be open for discussion at two Wisconsin Public Service Commission public hearings.

Those are at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Monday at the Clinton-Rose Senior Center, 3045 N. King Drive. The hearings will also be livestreamed on Zoom.