Your BillsWednesday, November 4
A state ruling on We Energies' proposed 9.25% electric rate hike is expected within days
The Daily Kenosha team
If you're a We Energies customer, a decision is close. In the next few days, the state Public Service Commission is expected to rule on the utility's request to raise residential electric rates 9.25% in 2027 and 5.5% in 2028. It would be the fifth and sixth hikes in a row, and in recent rate cases the PSC has shown a willingness to approve smaller hikes than utilities requested.
A typical We Energies electric bill would reach $166 a month by 2028
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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| Typical residential monthly bill | |
|---|---|
| Now | $142 |
| 2027 | $157 |
| 2028 | $166 |
Most of the increase, $230 million through 2028, goes to new solar, wind, battery storage and natural gas projects, the utility says. Regulators and We Energies say data centers aren't driving it. Critics, including the Citizens Utility Board, say it's too steep.
- 2027: about $13 more a month, or $156 a year
- 2028: another $8-9 a month, around $100 a year
- Last increase: about $15 a month between 2024 and 2026
We Energies wants a 9.9% return on equity, above PSC staff's 9.5%
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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| Value | |
|---|---|
| Current | 9.8% |
| We Energies request | 9.9% |
| PSC staff | 9.5% |
| Citizens Utility Board | 9.1% |
In school news, the Journal Times reports seven of 13 Racine County districts see an increase in state aid.
Sources: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Journal Times