Public Service Commission

All Utilities Can’t Disconnect Service Until Spring

New moratorium bars shutting off water, power and heat.

Look for the Alternative Fuel Corridor Signs on I-94

PSC votes to extend moratorium on utility disconnections until spring

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RENEW Wisconsin Announces Heather Allen as Executive Director

Reform Needed To Lower Electric Rates

Rates are 32% higher than neighborhood states. Proposed bill addresses this.

Governor Scott Walker Statement on EPA’s Final Rule

"Yet again, President Obama is taking unilateral action and overstepping the limits of his authority to pursue a political agenda."

Solar Groups Take Next Step in Appeal of Public Service Commission Decision on 2014 We Energies Rate Case

RENEW Wisconsin and the Alliance for Solar Choice ask courts to rule on the legality of the decision.

Republicans Target Utility Fighter CUB

Proposal would kill funding for Citizen’s Utility Board, which advocates for consumers.

Earth Day or April Fools Day?

"The wealth of the nation is its air, water, soil, forests, minerals, rivers, lakes, oceans, scenic beauty, wildlife habitats and biodiversity… that’s all there is."

RENEW lawsuit yields favorable ruling, again, for customer-owned renewable energy systems

Circuit Court Judge sends 2013 decision from Wisconsin Public Service rate case back to the Public Service Commission

Solar Groups Appeal Public Service Commission Decision to Impose Unwarranted Fees on Wisconsinites

The Alliance for Solar Choice and RENEW Wisconsin ask courts to rule on the legality of controversial rate case decision

State Fights Plan to Cut Carbon Emissions

Plan would cut emissions by 34% and costs for state, Walker administration figures show. So why the resistance?

Supervisor David Bowen Critical of Proposed Utility Rate Increase

Urges Public Service Commission to Table WE Energies Rate Hike Request

Wisconsin Lags on Alternative Energy

Conservative businessman Matt Neumann blasts Republicans for state's "rotten" record on renewable energy.

Short-sighted Move By We Energies Against Solar Power

The power utility seeks policy changes that will hamper the development of renewable energy in Wisconsin

Resolution seeks equal treatment for projects that require moving utilities

News release from Alderman Robert J. Bauman

PSC Questions Cost of Cutting Emissions

Public Service Commissioner Nowak warns federal carbon-emission rule could cost $20 billion. But is the estimate accurate?

Alderman Zielinski seeks halt to ‘anti solar, anti-renewable energy’ We Energies rate hike

News release from Alderman Tony Zielinski

State PSC Gives Huge Giveaway to Businesses

Electric ratepayers in one-half of the state will subsidize downtown Milwaukee businesses.

Mayor Tom Barrett’s Statement on Today’s Public Service Commission Ruling

We’re not surprised that the Public Service Commission continues to politicize a local public works improvement project.

Public Service Commission of Wisconsin decision in PSC Docket 5-DR-109

We disagree With the Public Service Commission’s decision today on the Milwaukee Streetcar matter and will recommend an appeal.

The War Against Wind

Wind power is booming in surrounding states but declining in Wisconsin. Why?

Telephone Company Rip-Off

Now that the telecom industry is deregulated, AT&T can gouge customers with late fees.

How a Streetcar Spurs Development

In cities like Kansas City, Cincinnati and Tucson, the creation of an urban streetcar has triggered development.

Critics Say WEPCO Proposal Would Over-Charge Customers

Valley plant conversion to gas will mostly serve businesses yet 90% of cost is charged to residential customers, they charge.

How Legislators Grab Big Pensions

A move into higher-paying state jobs greatly increases their pensions.

Rep. Taylor statement on PSC rejection of solar

The Wisconsin Public Service Commission recently suspended the Focus on Energy program’s solar electric and solar hot water incentives for the remainder of the year for Wisconsin home projects.

Journal Sentinel Story Doesn’t Hold Water

Story slams Milwaukee water utility though it’s actually cheaper than others in the region.

Public Service Commission loses sight of the public interest in power line decision

Statement of Alderman Michael J. Murphy March 1, 2013

Statement from Mayor Tom Barrett Concerning the Public Service Commission Ruling on the Milwaukee Streetcar Project

We agree with comments made by two of the three Public Service Commission (PSC) members that the Streetcar project is an exercise of the City’s police power, and that it is a benefit to the public’s health, safety and welfare.

PSC indicates in favor of City of Milwaukee on Milwaukee Streetcar utility issue

A majority of the members of the Public Service Commission expressed support today for the City of Milwaukee’s position that the Milwaukee Streetcar is a public works project just like roads, sewers and water main projects.

Three predictions for three projects in 2012

We kickoff 2012 with three predictions about how three projects, which have the potential to change Milwaukee's landscape, will unfold in 2012. The projects? The reconfiguration of the Lake Interchange, the Milwaukee Streetcar, and Kohl's potential re-location to downtown Milwaukee.

A Year in Review

As the US economy continued it slow recovery from the Great Recession, Milwaukee was left with a couple of failed development projects to complete or redefine, a changing real estate market, the opportunity to make small infrastructure changes, and questions about the future of transit.

Public Works Committee Approves New Berlin Water Deal

This meeting’s highlights included the proposed water sale to New Berlin and the reappointment of Jeff Mantes to the Commissioner the Department of Public Works.The water sale involved two separate resolutions.  Resolution 080012 would handle the actual water sale and resolution 080011 will enact an intergovernmental agreement contingent on the water sale.  Water sales are regulated by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (“PSC“) which sets the wholesale price of water and oversees water contracts.  Because of this any additional constraints beyond the sales agreement had to handled in an intergovernmental agreement.  This intergovernmental agreement included a non-compete clause between the cities as well as a one time $1.5 million payment to the City of Milwaukee from New Berlin to offset some of the potential economic impact associated with this transaction.  Further as this agreement proposes the sale of water outside of the Great Lakes Basin it follows the requirements set for within the Great Lakes Compact.New Berlin is seeking to obtain the additional water source to support the middle third of the city, to large extent because of high levels of the radium existing in their water and the depletion of their aquifer.  During the discussion it was brought up, that if New Berlin isn’t able to purchase water from the City of Milwaukee that New Berlin may spend $4 million on an upgrade to their facilities or pursue purchasing water from Oak Creek.  Both of these options were potentially more expensive for New Berlin than purchasing from the City of Milwaukee but Jack F. Chiovatero, the Mayor of New Berlin, indicated the pressing need by stating that “I wouldn’t be sitting in front off you if I didn’t have the radium issue”.Alderman Robert Bauman repeatedly made the point that New Berlin fails to meet the City of Milwaukee’s guidelines for water sales. These guidelines are based on access to mass transit and affordable housing within the community wishing to purchase water.  Further he pointed out that this resolution does not reflect the original authorization to negotiate as passed by the Common Council in December 2007.  In addition to Alderman Bauman’s vocal opposition various organizations such as the Good Jobs & Livable Neighborhoods Coalition, the Metropolitan Milwaukee Fair Housing Council, and the ACLU spoke out in opposition to the water sale.  This opposition stems from the idea that sending water to sprawling communities without adequate housing or transit options makes access to the new jobs, that this transaction will support, near impossble for low-income residents of Milwaukee to access.   In addition to those concerns Bill Holahan, the Chairman of the UWM Department of Economics stated that “over the next 20 years the expansion out there will swamp the $1.5 million” and that “economic value of the water is probably not reflected in the $1.5 million”.  Despite these issues and concerns the resolution was approved and sent to a special meeting of the Finance & Personnel Committee held prior to July 30th’s Common Council Meeting.The other contentious item was the […]

Ameritech Catches Political Fire From Competitors

Open up this month's Ameritech bill and you may find a surprise.