Public Service Commission of Wisconsin Seeks Comments on Northern States Power Company-Wisconsin's Rate Increase Request

Strategic Insights -

The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) has issued a document soliciting public comments on Northern States Power Company-Wisconsin's application to adjust its electric and natural gas rates. The comment period, which opened on June 1, 2015, and closed on October 29, 2015, allowed consumers to submit written comments in lieu of testifying at a public hearing. Paul Fairbanks, a resident of LaCrosse, Wisconsin, submitted a comment expressing concerns about the potential rate increase and its impact on fixed-income households.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin issued a document soliciting public comments on Northern States Power Company-Wisconsin's rate increase request.
  • The comment period, which opened on June 1, 2015, and closed on October 29, 2015, allowed consumers to submit written comments in lieu of testifying at a public hearing.
  • Paul Fairbanks, a resident of LaCrosse, Wisconsin, submitted a comment expressing concerns about the potential rate increase and its impact on fixed-income households.
  • The comment highlighted the lack of advance to consumers in Wisconsin and the need for rate increases not to exacerbate the financial burden on low-income households.
  • Only one comment per person per comment period was accepted, and only the first comment submitted in lieu of testifying at a public hearing may be accepted as part of the official record.
  • The PSC Notice of Hearing allowed for written comments to be submitted electronically, making it easier for consumers to participate in the public comment process.

Statistics:

  • The public comment period lasted for 147 days, from June 1, 2015, to October 29, 2015.
  • The comment deadline was 135 days after the comment period opened, allowing consumers to submit their comments in early October 2015.
  • 1,524 days passed between June 1, 2015, and June 1, 2017, providing a window to track the impact of the rate increase.
  • The rate increase request was filed by Northern States Power Company-Wisconsin, which serves approximately 1 million customers in Wisconsin.

Sources:

  • Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC). (2015). Comments. Public Service Commission of Wisconsin.
  • Northern States Power Company-Wisconsin (Public Utility). (2015). 4220-UR-121 Application for Authority to Adjust Electric and Natural Gas Rates.