Wisconsin Power and Light Company (WPL) is requesting to increase retail electric rates by $93 million or 9.1% and decrease natural gas service rates by $814,000 or 1%, when compared to current rates. The request seeks to recover costs of operating the electric and natural gas utility systems.
In the request, WPL asks the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) for approval to offer customers low interest financing or grants for customer-owned renewable generation, a move designed to encourage further development of renewable energy sources.
The company said that the proposed renewable initiative will assist agricultural, commercial and industrial customers, schools and governments in identifying and implementing renewable energy projects. As part of this proceeding, WPL proposes to increase its buyback rates for solar, biogas and wind energy and to combine rate options with incremental funding for new conservation programs.
According to WPL, typical residential electric customers using 600kWh per month will see a monthly increase of approximately $8.71 on their bills. A typical residential natural gas customer using 730 therms annually would see a decrease of approximately $7 over the course of a year.
