WPS will uncouple profits, energy sales

From an article by Tom Content in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

In a move expected to be followed by at least one other state utility, Wisconsin Public Service Corp. of Green Bay will no longer see profits dip when sales of electricity slide.

That may seem like a profit plan many businesses wish they could use during slowing economic times, but it's all part of a growing movement around the country to help customers save on rising home energy costs.

The northeastern Wisconsin utility won state approval this week for a plan that would break the link between profits and electricity sales. It also would boost spending to encourage customers to reduce their use of energy.

"It should be a very good thing for the environment and for energy conservation because it allows us to take our focus off the bottom line and put it into education and helping our customers use less energy," utility spokesman Kerry Spees said. . . .

WPS will develop pilot projects in several communities designed to boost energy efficiency. The exact nature of the community-based pilots won't be developed for several months, Spees said.

Those pilots could serve as models for other initiatives around the state, said Charlie Higley, executive director of the Wisconsin Citizens' Utility Board.

"These community pilots will test other ways of marketing energy efficiency so more consumers can participate and enjoy the savings, and then those can be replicated with other utilities," Higley said.

The Citizens' Utility Board has been in contact with other state utilities, including We Energies of Milwaukee, to explore similar moves. To date, only Madison-based Wisconsin Power & Light Co. has expressed interest.