For the Tomahawk Leader
GREEN BAY – Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) announced on Thursday, April 28 that it had filed proposals with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) for regulatory reviews that will set customer rates for electricity and natural gas for 2023.
WPS said the filing comes as the company is in the midst of the largest clean energy transition in its history.
“We have set some of the most aggressive goals in our industry for reducing carbon and methane emissions,” said Scott Lauber, WPS President. “This rate plan will help us reach those goals and provide customers with the affordable, reliable and clean energy they depend on.”
The proposal includes “critical investments in storm hardening and grid resiliency,” WPS said.
“The request – which includes millions of dollars of savings from the closure of older, less-efficient fossil fuel plants – marks only the third time in eight years the company has asked for an increase in base rates,” WPS stated.
According to WPS, the plan submitted for consideration would increase the typical electric bill for residential customers by approximately $5.00 to $6.00 a month in 2023, or roughly 5% to 6%.
Average bills would remain below the Midwest and national average, WPS said.
WPS said it points to three cost drivers in the filing: Capital investments in new solar, wind and battery storage, many of which have already been approved by the PSCW; reliability investments, including grid hardening projects to bury power lines and strengthen the delivery network against severe weather; and changes in wholesale business with other utilities.
Natural gas customers would see a small increase in their monthly bills in 2023 as part of the filed plan.
WPS will update the filing in late May to include more specific information on the impact for each customer group. The company also will provide this information to customers through a bill insert and on www.wisconsinpublicservice.com.
The PSCW will conduct hearings on the WPS proposals and is expected to make a final decision later this year. New rates are expected to take effect in Jan. 2023, WPS said.