Wis. Regulators Approve Electric Rate Increase

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 Co., 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 Co. That translates to about 84 cents more per month.

The increases are expected to begin early next year.

We Energies is the trade name of Wisconsin Electric Power Co. and Wisconsin Gas LLC, the principal utility subsidiaries of Wisconsin Energy Corp.