Ingrid Nahm

Appleton

As we enjoy this week's sunny forecast, I am grateful my home will generate a sizable amount of solar energy to lower my utility bill this month. In Wisconsin, there are a couple thousand households, businesses and non-profits that will benefit from this sunny forecast. Many Wisconsin citizens have invested in becoming more energy efficient or in generating solar, wind or biogas energy to reduce our state's dependence on fossil fuels for power plants that Wisconsin utilities must purchase from other states. Renewable energy systems reduce the burden on the grid and diversify the state's energy portfolio.

We Energies, WPS and Madison Gas & Electric have filed rate change requests to the Public Service Commission to increase the daily facilities charge for all customers by 75-150 percent, and We Energies specifically requested to add monthly surcharges to renewable energy households, businesses and non-profits based on the peak power a system produces at any one point in a billing cycle. For an average solar household, the We Energies renewable fee would equate to an additional charge of $160 - $250 per year. A nearby local non-profit's solar system could incur a renewable charge of about $850 per year. Wisconsin utilities are preempting an influx of renewable energy systems by making the financial benefits of a system harder to realize. This comes at a time when solar is booming across the country, the costs to install are at their lowest in history and renewable industries support local job growth. When the rate change request announcement arrived from your utility, did you notice their request? The period for public comment is open now! Take time to comment and let your elected officials know that the money Gov. Walker has helped us keep shouldn't go to higher utility fees.

Ingrid Nahm

Appleton