We were disappointed when Xcel Energy and Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) both proposed increasing the mandatory fees for its electricity customers. This is the fee you pay simply for having electricity. Increasing this fee (compared to increasing the charge based on how much electricity you use), unfairly impacts low-income people, fixed-income seniors, and other low-energy users. The pay-back for reducing your electricity use or installing clean energy or energy efficient products is reduced if your bill is made up of fees you can’t control.
Sierra Club members across the state worked with local community groups and fought back against these proposals. In Eau Claire, members worked with JONAH, a social-justice interfaith group to turn people out to hearings, canvassing the area, and educating the community about the effects of this increase. They even got the City Council to consider a resolution on the issue.
In La Crosse, members submitted comments and spoke with the media about the impacts. In Green Bay, members worked with JOSHUA, a social-just interfaith group to turn people out to the hearings as well. Across the state, we worked with Renew Wisconsin and supported cries from AARP and low-income weatherization programs about their concerns.
In the end, there was overwhelming opposition to these proposals. In the WPS case, 370 people submitted public comments. Not a single comment supported the increase. With the Xcel case, it was the same. 529 people either testified or submitted public comments. Only one supported the increase.
In a remarkable surprise, the Public Service Commission (PSC) gave WPS much less than they had asked for. Instead of granting the $6 increase as requested, the PSC cut WPS’ increase to $2. They also agreed to study the impacts of mandatory fee increases. The PSC voted to increase Xcel’s fixed fee to $14 instead of the $18 that was requested. Though we’re disappointed to see any increase, people will have a little bit more money in their pocket when having to choose between rent, dinner, medical bills, and other necessary expenses.
Despite the hope the PSC has instilled in us, it’s too bad we are having this conversation at all. We need to be working quickly to embrace the clean energy economy as are our neighboring states. Utilities in other states are supporting clean energy ; in Wisconsin, it’s too bad to see our utilities fighting clean energy tooth and nail. Heck, even in Texas, a utility is offering free electricity at night because clean energy is so cheap they’re literally giving it away.