Work with utilities to reduce the cost of energy for homeowners and employers

We initially rated this promise in September 2017. Our rating then was Stalled.

The state Public Service Commission had reduced electricity costs for certain large electricity users by enabling them to pay the lowest going rate in the Midwest. Before that change, these big users were paying regular Wisconsin rates that were higher because, unlike market rates, they fully account for power plants and other investments in the utility's infrastructure.
 

But now, by and large, electricity costs for business customers and homeowners and renters are higher than in 2014, Citizens Utility Board executive director Tom Content told us. The board advocates for residential and small business customers.

Content noted that customers of one Wisconsin utility, Madison Gas & Electric, will see their electric rates drop by 2 percent in 2019 (though gas prices will rise 1 percent).

In May 2018, the state Public Service Commission, run by three appointees of Gov. Scott Walker, did order utilities to give customers $140 million in bill credits, ranging from about $2 to $23 for residential customers over the summer and then smaller amounts on a monthly basis for the rest of 2018. But the reason for the credits was Congress' passage of tax reform in December 2017.  

Moreover, the MG&E electricity rate reduction is also the result of the federal tax cuts  and the Madison utility taking advantage of price decreases for renewable energy sources, Content said.

Here are figures collected by the Citizens Utility Board comparing 2014 to 2017. They show higher prices in 2017 than in 2014.

Average residential utility bill (gas and electric)

Meanwhile, according to the board, the statewide average commercial electricity rate was 2.9 percent higher in 2017 than in 2014.

Our rating

Walker said he'd work with utilities to reduce the cost of energy for homeowners and employers. By and large, energy bills are higher in 2017, the latest year for which figures are available, than they were in 2014. So we rate this Promise Broken.

With his "Continuing Wisconsin's Comeback" plan, Gov. Scott Walker pledged during the 2014 campaign to work with utilities to reduce the cost of energy.

The state Public Service Commission has reduced electricity costs for certain large electricity users by enabling them to pay the lowest going rate in the Midwest, Citizens Utility Board executive director Tom Content told us. The board advocates for residential and small business customers. Before that change, these big users were paying regular Wisconsin rates that arehigher because unlike market rates, they fully account for power plants and other investments in the utility's infrastructure.

But aside from that, costs are higher now than they were in 2014, according to data provided by the Citizens Utility Board:

Montly electricity bills for residents and small businesses

(Based on 600 kilowatt hours per month; data retrieved from state Public Service Commission)

Industrial (essentially factories) electricity rates

(Cents per kilowatt hour; data from Brubaker & Associates)

Commercial (businesses that aren't factories) electricity rates

(Cents per kilowatt hour; data from U.S. Energy Information Administration)

As for natural gas, prices in Wisconsin decreased from 2014 to 2016, but the state has very little, if any, leverage over them, Content said. Prices have dropped across the country partly because an increase in fracking has raised the supply, he said.

Given that so far, electricity costs by and large have increased, we rate Walker's promise Stalled.