We Energies proposes 14% rate increase over next two years

Utility says hike is needed to cover costs of new renewable energy and natural gas plants

Apr. 2, 2026 at 3:20am

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We Energies is seeking a 14% rate increase over the next two years, which would cost the average residential customer around $21 more per month by 2028. The utility says the hike is needed to recover costs for new renewable energy and natural gas plants approved by the Public Service Commission.

Why it matters

The proposed rate increase would significantly impact We Energies customers, many of whom are already struggling with high energy bills due to factors like the cold winter and rising gas prices. This raises concerns about the affordability of utilities and the burden on residential customers.

The details

We Energies is required to submit a rate filing to the Public Service Commission every two years. The proposed hike would start with about a 9% increase in 2027 and a 5.5% increase in 2028 for residential bills. The utility says the majority of the costs are to recover the expenses for new renewable energy and natural gas plants that have been approved and built.

  • We Energies must submit a rate filing to the Public Service Commission every two years.
  • The proposed 14% rate increase would be implemented in two phases: 9% in 2027 and 5.5% in 2028.

The players

We Energies

A utility company that provides electricity and natural gas services to customers in Wisconsin.

Julie Kaczmarek

A We Energies customer who uses solar panels to try to keep her energy bills down, but is still concerned about the proposed rate increase.

Brendan Conway

A spokesperson for We Energies who says the rate increase is needed to recover costs for new renewable energy and natural gas plants.

Public Service Commission

The regulatory agency that must approve We Energies' proposed rate increase.

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What they’re saying

“I just feel like they can just say, we're going to charge this and you're just going to pay it because you have no one else to get your energy from.”

— Julie Kaczmarek, We Energies customer

“What it really does, the majority of the costs, if you look at it, is to recover the costs for the new renewable energy and state-of-the-art natural gas plants that have been approved by the PSC, built, and are now going into service.”

— Brendan Conway, We Energies spokesperson

What’s next

The Public Service Commission is expected to make a decision on We Energies' proposed rate increase by the end of 2026.

The takeaway

This rate increase proposal highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing the need for utilities to invest in new infrastructure and renewable energy sources with the affordability concerns of residential customers, many of whom are already facing high energy bills. The outcome of the PSC's review will have significant implications for We Energies' customers.