Wisconsin approves $300M utility rate hikes despite consumer backlash
Wisconsin’s energy bills are set to rise after state regulators approved significant rate hikes for two major utilities. The Public Service Commission greenlit increases totalling $300 million over two years for Alliant Energy and Xcel Energy customers. Both companies will now maintain a 9.8% profit margin for investors, despite objections from consumer advocates.
The commission’s decision allows Alliant Energy to raise rates by $156.4 million over two years. In 2026 alone, customers will see an extra $76.6 million charge, with the bulk ($144.1 million) going toward electric rates and $12.3 million for natural gas. The utility’s profit margin of 9.8% was locked in, drawing criticism from the Citizens Utility Board of Wisconsin, which argued that shareholders—not customers—should bear more of the financial burden.
Residential customers will now face higher bills as the approved increases roll out from next year. With Alliant and Xcel securing fixed profit margins, the financial impact on households will depend on how the utilities implement the changes. The decision leaves consumer advocates calling for greater scrutiny of how costs are distributed between companies and ratepayers.
