Public Service Commission Approves Excel Energy Rate Increase

Xcel Energy’s residential customers in Wisconsin are expected to pay an addition two dollars-a-month for electrical service and four-dollars, 76 cents-a-month for gas.  The Public Service Commission authorized the utility to increase its revenue through rate hikes which were approved Thursday.  Another three dollars will be tacked onto the fixed charge, doubling it in less than two years.  The Citizens Utility Board told the panel low-income residents are hit by flat fee increases disproportionately.  The P-S-C disagreed while approving the changes.