GREEN BAY – Wisconsin Public Service Corp. has requested approval to increase northeastern and central Wisconsin customers’ electric bills by $15 to $18 over the next two years.
WPS, a subsidiary of WEC Energy Group, on Friday filed a rate increase application with the Wisconsin Public Service Commission to increase both its electric and natural gas rates in 2025 and 2026. The rate increases are needed to reduce customer outages, build infrastructure to support economic growth and meet new federal environmental rules, the utility said in a media release.
The request will be updated in the months ahead with more specific information about how the rate increase application would impact individual customer groups, such as residential or industrial users. A similar update to its rate increase application for 2023 would have more than doubled the increase on an average residential customer bill. The Public Service Commission reduced the increase to $9, down from $14.50.
How much would my WPS electric and natural gas bills go up in 2025?
WPS requested to increase its electric rates across all of its customers by 8.5% in 2025 to cover a projected $110.1 million revenue shortfall. In 2026, it requested another 4.9% increase over the 2025 rate to cover a $64.3 million revenue shortfall.
WPS says the typical electric customer’s bill will increase by about 11%. The average customer uses 660 kilowatt hours of electricity per month, which equates to an average bill of $107.43, according to the Public Service Commission’s customer electric bill data. WPS said a typical residential customer would see their bill increase by $10-$12 per month in 2025 and $5-$6 per month in 2026, for a total increase between $15 and $18 by 2026.
WPS also requested to increase its natural gas rates by 6.8% in 2025 to cover a projected $26.8 million revenue shortafall. In 2026, it requested another 3.9% increase to cover an projected $16.1 million revenue shortfall.
WPS says the typical natural gas customer’s bill would increase $3-$4 in 2025 under the requested increases. The news release also noted average WPS heating bill dropped $200 in the 2023-24 winter months compared to the 2022-23 winter.
Why does WPS want to increase my electric bill?
Testimony supporting the request cites WPS’ increasing cost of service due to inflation, high interest rates, climate change, changes in regional capacity and more strict environmental requirements. It said current revenues do not cover operating costs and some key objectives that include:
- Improve reliability and reduce outages.
- Support economic growth.
- Comply with federal emissions rules.
The company says its electric utility needs $110.1 million more in revenue and its natural gas utility needs $26.8 million more in revenue.
Green Bay, Wausau, Oshkosh, Door County residents impacted by rate request
WPS provides electric service to 466,000 customers and natural gas service to about 344,000 customers in northeastern and central Wisconsin.
WPS provides service to the Antigo, Brillion, Chilton, Crandon, De Pere, Green Bay, Kewaunee, Marinette, Merrill, Mosinee, Oconto, Oshkosh, Peshtigo, Rhinelander, Schofield, Stevens Point, Tomahawk, Waupaca and Wausau areas.
Its service area stretches from Door, Kewaunee, Oconto counties in northeastern Wisconsin to Vilas, Oneida and Lincoln counties in central Wisconsin.
Consumer advocate group vows to ‘look hard for savings’ in WPS request
The Wisconsin Citizens Utility Board (CUB) represents and advocates for consumers when utilities request rate increases like this. CUB Executive Director Tom Content said the organization plans to take a careful look at WPS’ request as well as the nearly 15% increase We Energies, another WEC Energy Group subsidiary, requested on Friday.
WPS noted its customers pay comparatively lower electric rates than other customers in Wisconsin or the Midwest. Content, though, said Wisconsin utilities are allowed some of the highest rates of returns on investments in the United States and that CUB will look for ways to save customers.
“Shareholders of WEC Energy Group have enjoyed profits that are the highest in the state and well above the national average. High profits drive up costs and cry out for a more balanced approach that keeps the concerns of customers paying the bills top of mind,” Content said. “Our experts at CUB will dig in and look hard for savings. CUB encourages homeowners, renters, and small businesses to raise their voice during public hearings this fall.”
What’s next?
WPS will update its application with further data and information to identify how much of an increase different customers, residential or industrial for example, would see.
The Public Service Commission also will review the application, take testimony and comment…
Read More: Wisconsin Public Service requests increase to 2025 electric, gas bills