MADISON, Wis. (AP) — We Energies customers will face bigger electric bills.
The state Public Service Commission has approved a $90 million rate increase for We Energies subsidiary Wisconsin Electric Power Company, or WEPCO. That translates to $5 more a month for the average residential customer.
The utility had asked to raise rates by $190 million, citing construction and conservation costs and the recession. Commission Chairman Eric Callisto says the panel struck a balance between the utility and customers.
The commission also reduced WEPCO natural gas rates by $1.4 million, cutting monthly bills by 9 cents. It approved a $6.1 million gas increase for another We Energies’ subsidiary, Wisconsin Gas Company. That translates to about 84 cents more per month.
The increases are expected to begin early next year.