OPINION: Wisconsin families like mine shouldn’t struggle to pay for electricity

Three of the largest energy providers in the state want to increase electric rates in Wisconsin.

I served as a member of the U.S. Air Force for 20 years. I know the value of hard work and sacrifice, and what it means to serve my country and my community. I also know how hard it can be to keep up with bills as the cost of living continues to rise. 

As a young airman, money was tight, and I had to make a lot of sacrifices to get by. Now, I have a wife and two children, and we’re doing better. Even still, it seems like the price of everything–from groceries to clothes and school supplies–is going up. My family certainly feels the crunch. 

My wife is a teacher, and I’m a government contractor now. I’m always worried about finding the next project to maintain our stream of income. The last thing I need is to worry about how my family is going to keep the lights on. And we’re not alone. A recent study shows that a single adult in Wisconsin needs to earn $87,194 a year to live comfortably. That’s up from $84,115 in 2024.  Keep in mind that the average median income in Wisconsin is $75,670.

That’s why I reached out to WorkMoney, a nonprofit organization that helps lower costs for working families. I was looking for solutions that would help me feel less like I was drowning each month, and WorkMoney has helped me save money in places I never thought to look.

Winter in Wisconsin is particularly tough on our wallets. We need electricity to stay warm. In the past, our bill has been as high as $700 in a month. What’s going to happen to Wisconsinites who can’t afford to keep up with higher electricity costs? How are they going to get through the winter? 

I work from home, so I depend on my home electricity and internet to get my job done. Wisconsinites are already seeing our energy costs rise by more than the U.S. average in 2025. Now, our provider, Alliant Energy, alongside two other major electricity providers in Wisconsin, is doubling down and asking for even more. Really?

Three of the largest energy providers in the state, Xcel, Alliant, and Madison Gas and Electric (MG&E) want to increase electric rates in Wisconsin by 11.8%, 8.3% and 4.89% in 2026, respectively and again by 7.2%, 5.7% and 4.3% in 2027.Three of the largest energy providers in the state, Xcel, Alliant, and Madison Gas and Electric want to increase electric rates in Wisconsin by an average of 8.3% in 2026 and an average of 5.7% in 2027. These estimated increases will cost the average Wisconsin household up to an additional $18 per month. My energy provider, Alliant, is trying to raise my electricity rate by over 8% next year and another 5% in 2027.  That would bring my family’s bill up to $170 per month on average. Right now, we pay less than a lot of families because we use solar panels. Even still, this increase will be big. Alliant Energy serves 16% of households across Wisconsin, and every single one of us will feel the impact of this rate hike. 

Alliant made over $3 billion in profits last year—a notable increase from 2023. The CEO of Alliant makes over $3,300 an hour. It doesn’t make any sense that a public utility company is making billions of dollars in profits and expecting Wisconsin families to pad their portfolios and the CEO’s pay even further. Instead of boosting shareholders profits, Alliant should focus on providing power at rates Wisconsinites can actually afford. 

I’ve lived in Wisconsin for decades and have raised my children here. I know there are good, hardworking people all across our state. Wisconsinites care about our communities. We look out for each other. Alliant’s proposed rate increase shows that they are disconnected from the reality of true Wisconsin families, one that my neighbors and I live in every day. Their proposed hike shows they are not concerned with how the increase will impact everyday people. 

Thankfully, we have an opportunity to stop Alliant’s proposed rate increase. The Wisconsin Public Services Commission (WPSC) can block the rate increase and keep energy costs affordable for Wisconsin families. Thanks to pressure from consumer advocates, MG&E has already scaled back its proposed electricity increases to just 0.04% in 2026 and 3.8% in 2027. If we keep speaking out, we can push Xcel and Alliant to do the same. WPSC is holding hearings throughout September on rate increases by Alliant, Xcel and Madison Gas and Electric. The next hearings are coming up on Tuesday September 30, for MG&E customers. You can join via Zoom and make your voice heard here.

The WPSC has an obligation to look out for hardworking Wisconsin families. It is their job to make sure our state has reliable power at an affordable price. Commissioners Strand, Nieto and Hawkins cannot let these rate increases happen on their watch. 

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