New Richmond Municipal Electric Utility has filed an application with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) to increase electric rates. The adjustment has been requested in order to cover costs associated with installing protection upgrades to the Highview and Knowles substations as detailed in PSC docket #4139-CE-104. The requested adjustment is also to cover inflationary increases in operational and maintenance expenses and costs associated with maintaining the reliability of the electric distribution system. The last electric rate increase was approved in September 2022.
The utility is requesting an overall increase above the electric utility’s present revenues of 6.61%, or $812,103. This request is detailed in New Richmond’s electric rate application submitted to the PSCW on September 10, 2024. After review, Commission staff proposed a revised increase in rates of $766,512 or 6.24%. The actual change to individual customers will vary with electricity usage, class of service and the ultimate rates authorized by the Commission. If the application is approved by the PSCW, per staff recommendation, the average residential customer using 722 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per month will see a monthly increase of approximately $8.13, or 9.23%.
An audiovisual hearing on the application has been scheduled for Thursday, April 17, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. (CDT). This virtual hearing has no physical location at PSCW’s office in Madison, WI. Members of the public may attend at New Richmond Municipal Electric Utility, Council Chambers, 156 E First Street, or by internet or telephone or listen to the live broadcast on the PSCW’s website at http://psc.wi.gov under the “PSC Live Broadcast” button.
Public Hearing Participation Instructions:
Internet:
To join by audiovisual internet connection:
1. Go to: Zoom at https://zoom.us/
2. Select: Join A Meeting
3. Enter: pschearings (Personal Link Name)
Telephone:
To join by audio-only telephone connection:
1. Dial: +1 312 626 6799
2. Enter: 809 513 2930 # (Meeting ID)
PUBLIC COMMENTS. A person may testify in this proceeding without becoming a party and without attorney representation. A person may submit this testimony in only one of the following ways:
• Web Comment. Go to the Commission's web site at http://psc.wi.gov, click on "File a Comment" button. On the next page, select the "File a comment" link that appears for docket number 4139-ER-108. Web comments shall be received no later than Monday, April 21, 2025.
• Oral Comment. Spoken testimony at the public hearing session. The Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) may receive an oral comment from any member of the public in attendance at the Public Hearing Session. The ALJ will receive an oral comment by unmuting each member of the public connected and inviting that person to comment.
• Mail Comment. Send a comment by U.S. mail. All comments submitted by U.S. mail shall be received no later than Monday, April 21, 2025. A mail comment shall include the phrase "Docket 4139-ER-108 Comments" in the heading, and shall be addressed to:
Docket 4139-ER-108 Comments
Public Service Commission
P.O. Box 7854, Madison, WI 53707-7854.
The Commission will not accept comments submitted via e-mail or facsimile (fax). CONTACT. Please direct questions about this docket or requests for additional accommodations for persons with a disability to the Commission’s docket coordinator, Andrew Fisher (PSCW) at (608) 266-3905 or email andrew.fisher@wisconsin.gov and refer to the New Richmond electric rate application under Docket 4139-ER-108.
New Richmond Municipal Electric Utility
715-246-4167
April 2025