GREEN BAY – Senator Rob Cowles (R-Green Bay) released the following statement after the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) approved rate hikes for Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) and We Energies:
“Before the Commissioners take a week off work, they had another giveaway for WPS and We Energies: more 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. 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.
“Yesterday’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. 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.”
The average residential We Energies electric customer can expect a $17.34 per month increase in 2026 as compared to current rates. The average residential WPS electric customer can expect a $13.89 per month increase in 2026 as compared to current rates. Senator Cowles’ comments to the PSC on the WPS rate case may be viewed here.
