MILWAUKEE, Wis. — We Energies customers urged state regulators to reject or reduce proposed rate increases during a public hearing in Milwaukee on Tuesday.
The utility is seeking increases that it says would add about $13 per month to a typical residential electric bill next year and another $8 to $9 per month in 2028.
During a Public Service Commission (PSC) hearing at Marquette University, several customers raised concerns about affordability and questioned whether ratepayers should be asked to absorb another increase.
Cudahy Alderman Jason Phillips told regulators the lack of competition makes the PSC’s oversight particularly important because residents can’t choose another electric or natural gas provider.
“There has to come a point when the answer cannot simply be another rate increase,” Phillips said.
Other customers described the impact another increase could have on people living on fixed or lower incomes.
Milwaukee-area resident Grace Moon told commissioners the proposed increases are out of proportion with what many customers can afford.
“Every year since I have moved here, since retiring, there has been an increase,” said Moon.
Not everyone at the hearing opposed the proposal. A representative of Operating Engineers Local 139 spoke in support, arguing the investments would strengthen Wisconsin’s energy infrastructure while supporting construction and union jobs.
The PSC will make a final decision on the proposal later this fall. Once a ruling is made, the new rates will take effect in January 2027.
We Energies points to reliability, long-term savings
We Energies spokesperson Brendan Conway previously told WTMJ the utility understands concerns about higher bills but says much of the requested increase would pay for projects already approved by regulators and now entering service.
That includes approximately $600 million in renewable energy projects, including solar, wind and battery storage. The utility says replacing older, less-efficient generation should produce savings over the longer term.
The proposal also includes investments in tree trimming, underground power lines and replacement of aging equipment intended to reduce the frequency and duration of outages.
“No one wants to see rising energy bills. We understand that,” Conway told WTMJ. “That’s why our filing included so many customer savings.”
We Energies also says its proposal protects existing customers from costs associated with large data centers, which the company says would pay nearly $1.9 billion in 2027 and 2028 toward the infrastructure and energy needed to serve them.
