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Area governmental units are scrutinizing Madison Gas & Electric’s proposal to more than double fixed electric rates and some are worried that the change could threaten plans to step up the use of solar power and other sustainability efforts that aim to cut unhealthy emissions and greenhouse gases.

“The city has concerns about how this potential rate structure will impact city of Madison residents and the city of Madison,” says Jeanne Hoffman, facilities and sustainability manager for the city of Madison.

The city’s not alone. In addition to Madison, Dane County, the UW Board of Regents, the city of Monona and a host of environmental groups have requested to intervene in the Public Service Commission’s consideration of the request.

MGE is proposing to increase the current $10 “customer charge” on its monthly bill — a flat fee to pay for fixed costs — to $49 by 2016. The utility has also indicated that the charge could go up to $69 in 2017.

Meanwhile, MGE wants to reduce the charge for electricity use. That, some say, will remove the incentive to implement sustainability measures, particularly solar power.