Rep. Madison Confronts Rising Energy Costs with Two-Percent Cap on Residential Utility Bills

MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Today, Rep. Darrin Madison (D-10) announced a new 2% Rate Cap bill to cap residential energy bills in Wisconsin at 2% of household income, a tool to directly address the spiraling costs of energy for households in Wisconsin. The bill would lower energy rates and monthly budgets for hundreds of thousands of Wisconsin households.

The 2% Rate Cap bill requires the PSC to create a 2% of Income Payment Program to provide financial relief to energy burdened and severely energy burdened households in Wisconsin – a program that caps energy payments at 2% of household income. Under the bill, the PSC has 12 months to begin providing financial assistance and must automatically enroll every energy burdened and severely energy burdened household in the state within 3 years.

Representative Madison (D-10) issued the following statement:

“We know that affordability is on everyone’s minds right now, despite President Trump’s demands that we shut up about it, and rising energy rates are becoming an unsustainable burden on regular people in Wisconsin. This two-percent income cap on residential utility bills directly confronts the affordability crisis in Wisconsin – a crisis that is the result of choices this legislature has made. We can make a different choice, beginning today.

All across Wisconsin, and certainly in my district, there are energy burdened and severely energy burdened households who are routinely paying more than 8%, 12%, sometimes even 20% of their income just to try and keep the power on, and sometimes that is not enough.

Right now, utilities like We Energies are planning for twice the energy demand in southeastern Wisconsin without a clear plan for affordability. Regardless of your stance on data centers, artificial intelligence, and the role these technologies should play in our communities, the people of Wisconsin must have their energy burden lifted. This bill is a common sense, necessary protection for people struggling to afford their basic needs – one that will provide direct relief to families every single month so they can more easily afford groceries, rent, and other monthly expenses.

With this tool, we will imbue Wisconsin’s energy system with fairness and justice, and work towards a clean, affordable energy economy together.”

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.