Chapter 196

196.171 196.171 Examination of meters, pipes, fittings, wires and works; entering buildings for.

196.171(1) (1) Any officer or agent of any public utility furnishing or transmitting water, gas or electric current to the public or for public purposes may enter, at any reasonable time, any place supplied with gas, electricity or water by the public utility, for the purpose of inspecting, examining, repairing, installing or removing the meters, pipes, fittings, wires and works for supplying or regulating the supply of gas, electricity or water and for the purpose of ascertaining the quantity of gas, electricity or water supplied.

196.171(2) (2) No officer or agent of a public utility may enter any premises under this section unless the officer or agent:

196.171(2)(a) (a) Was duly appointed by the public utility for the purpose of acting under this section.

196.171(2)(b) (b) Exhibits written authority signed by the president, by a vice president and secretary, or by a vice president and assistant secretary of the public utility. The authority of any officer or agent of a municipally owned public utility shall be signed by the commissioner of public works or by any other official in charge of the public utility.

196.171(3) (3) Any person who directly or indirectly prevents or hinders any officer or agent from entering a premises, or from making an inspection, examination, removal or installation under this section shall be fined not more than $25 for each offense.

196.171 History History: 1983 a. 53.

196.171 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ss. PSC 113.0611, 134.15, and 185.41, Wis. adm. code.

196.175 196.175 Construction and occupancy standards. The commission may not establish or enforce construction or occupancy standards applicable to any public building, as defined in s. 101.01 (12), dwelling, as defined in s. 101.71 (2) or any occupancy standard applicable to any place of employment as defined in s. 101.01 (11).

196.175 History History: 1979 c. 34; 1983 a. 189 s. 329 (4); 1995 a. 27.

196.18 196.18 Entry upon premises. The commission, its agents, experts or examiners may enter any premises occupied by a public utility to make any examination or test under this chapter and may set up and use on the premises any apparatus or appliance and occupy reasonable space for the examination or test.

196.18 History History: 1983 a. 53.

196.19 196.19 Publish schedules; regulations; files; joint rates.

196.19(1) (1) Each public utility shall file with the commission schedules showing all rates, tolls and charges which it has established and which are in force at the time for any service performed by it within the state, or for any service in connection therewith or performed by any public utility controlled or operated by it. The rates, tolls and charges shown on such schedules may not be changed except as provided under this chapter.

196.19(2) (2) Every public utility shall file with and as a part of such schedule all rules and regulations that, in the judgment of the commission, in any manner affect the service or product, or the rates charged or to be charged for any service or product, as well as any contracts, agreements or arrangements relating to the service or product or the rates to be charged for any service or product to which the schedule is applicable as the commission may by general or special order direct.

196.19(3) (3) A copy of as much of the schedules filed under sub. (1) as the commission determines necessary for the use of the public shall be produced in plain type, kept on file at the public utility, and made available to the public at least 10 days before the schedules take effect, unless the commission prescribes a shorter time period. In making a copy available to the public, a public utility may make the copy available at locations where customer payments are accepted, on the public utility’s Internet site, or in a form and place that is otherwise readily accessible to the public.

196.19(4) (4) If a schedule of joint rates or charges is in force between public utilities, the schedule shall be filed with the commission under sub. (1). The commission shall determine the portion of the schedule necessary for the use of the public. The public utilities shall make the portion of the schedule available to the public as provided under sub. (3).

196.19(6) (6) The commission may prescribe the form in which any schedule is issued under this section by any public utility.

196.19 History History: 1983 a. 53 ss. 28, 35; 1985 a. 297; 1993 a. 496; 1999 a. 9; 2011 a. 22; 2013 a. 125.

196.19 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also chs. PSC 113, 134, and 185, Wis. adm. code.

196.191 196.191 Telecommunications utility and alternative telecommunications utility tariffs.

196.191(1) (1) No later than the 90th day beginning after June 9, 2011, any telecommunications utility or alternative telecommunications utility that provides intrastate switched access service within this state shall at all times have on file with the commission a tariff showing all rates, tolls, and charges that it has established and that are in force for such intrastate switched access service. The absence of such a tariff before the 90th day beginning after June 9, 2011, shall not prohibit a telecommunications utility or alternative telecommunications utility from charging intrastate switched access rates for any intrastate switched access service that it provides, or limit or excuse any entity from its obligation to pay intrastate switched access rates, provided that such intrastate switched access rates comply with the requirements of ss. 196.212 and 196.219 (2r). A telecommunications utility or alternative telecommunications utility may not withdraw a tariff for switched access service once the tariff is in effect. Except as allowed under this section or to comply with ss. 196.212 and 196.219 (2r), a telecommunications utility or alternative telecommunications utility may not file to change the rates, tolls, and charges shown in a tariff for switched access service.

196.191(2) (2) Except as provided in this section and s. 196.212, notwithstanding anything in this chapter to the contrary, any telecommunications utility or alternative telecommunications utility may do any of the following:

196.191(2)(a) (a) Retain on file with the commission tariffs already on file with the commission as of June 9, 2011, showing the rates, tolls, and charges and the terms and conditions that the telecommunications utility or alternative telecommunications utility has established as of June 9, 2011, for some or all of the services performed by the telecommunications utility or alternative telecommunications utility within the state or for any service in connection therewith or performed by any telecommunications utility or alternative telecommunications utility controlled or operated by the telecommunications utility or alternative telecommunications utility.

196.191(2)(b) (b) File with the commission new tariffs showing the rates, tolls, and charges and the terms and conditions that the telecommunications utility or alternative telecommunications utility has established, as provided in the tariff filings, for some or all of the services performed by the telecommunications utility or alternative telecommunications utility within the state or for any service in connection therewith or performed by any telecommunications utility or alternative telecommunications utility controlled or operated by the telecommunications utility or alternative telecommunications utility.

196.191(2)(c) (c) Except as provided in sub. (1), withdraw a tariff for any service by providing notice to the commission.

196.191(2)(d) (d)

196.191(2)(d)1. 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., change the rates, tolls, and charges and the terms and conditions of a tariff on file with the commission by filing a revised tariff with the commission. Except as provided in subd. 2., a proposed change in a tariff shall be effective at the time specified in the revised tariff as filed with the commission.

196.191(2)(d)2. 2. No change in a tariff that constitutes an increase in intrastate switched access rates may be made unless the change is consistent with the public interest factors set forth in s. 196.03 (6) and does not violate ss. 196.212 and 196.219 (2r) and the commission by order, after investigation and opportunity for a hearing, approves the change, except that an increase in intrastate switched access rates shall be effective at the time specified in the revised tariff as filed with the commission, if either of the following is satisfied:

196.191(2)(d)2.a. a. The increase results in the intrastate switched access rates mirroring the interstate switched access rates for the telecommunications utility or alternative telecommunications utility.

196.191(2)(d)2.b. b. If the telecommunications utility or alternative telecommunications utility is a small telecommunications utility, the increase does not violate s. 196.212 or 196.219 (2r), does not exceed, in any 12-month period, the percentage increase in the U.S. consumer price index for all urban consumers, U.S. city average, for the previous year, and is not greater than the corresponding increase in interstate switched access rates for the small telecommunications utility.

196.191(3) (3) 

196.191(3)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), if a telecommunications utility or alternative telecommunications utility files a new tariff under sub. (2) (b), all of the following apply:

196.191(3)(a)1. 1. The new tariff shall become effective on the date specified in the tariff, unless the commission suspends the operation of the new tariff upon serving a written notice of the suspension on the telecommunications utility or alternative telecommunications utility within 10 days after the date of filing. The notice shall include a statement of the reason under subd. 2. upon which the commission believes the tariff may be modified.

196.191(3)(a)2. 2. The commission may modify the new tariff after an opportunity for a hearing only to the extent that the tariff violates s. 196.212 or 196.219 and only to the extent that s. 196.212 or 196.219 applies to the telecommunications utility or alternative telecommunications utility.

196.191(3)(a)3. 3. If the commission does not conduct a hearing under subd. 2., the commission shall issue its final order within 60 days after issuing the notice of suspension under subd. 1. If the commission conducts a hearing, the commission shall issue its final order within 120 days after issuing the notice of suspension under subd. 1. If a final order is not issued within the time limits specified in this subdivision, the new tariff becomes effective as filed.

196.191(3)(b) (b) If a telecommunications utility or alternative telecommunications utility files a new tariff under sub. (2) (b) to comply with sub. (1) for intrastate switched access service that includes intrastate switched access rates higher than the intrastate switched access rates it charged on January 1, 2011, the tariff shall not be effective unless the new tariff is consistent with the public interest factors set forth in s. 196.03 (6) and does not violate s. 196.212 or 196.219 (2r) and the commission by order, after investigation and opportunity for a hearing, approves the new tariff and rates, except that an increase in intrastate switched access rates shall be effective at the time specified in the new tariff as filed with the commission if sub. (2) (d) 2. a. is satisfied or, if the telecommunications utility or alternative telecommunications utility is a small telecommunications utility, sub. (2) (d) 2. a. or b. is satisfied.

196.191(4) (4) Nothing in this section shall give the commission jurisdiction over the rates, tolls, and charges or the terms and conditions of any service that is not subject to a tariff under this section.

196.191(5) (5) Every telecommunications utility or alternative telecommunications utility that files a tariff with the commission under this section shall include all rates, tolls, and charges and all terms and conditions that apply to the services specified in the tariff.

196.191(6) (6) Nothing in this chapter prohibits a tariff for a service that permits a telecommunications utility or alternative telecommunications utility to enter into a contract with a customer for that tariffed service that includes rates, tolls, and charges and terms and conditions that are different from those in the tariff.

196.191(7) (7) Except as provided in sub. (6), no telecommunications utility or alternative telecommunications utility may charge, demand, collect, or receive more or less compensation for any service for which a tariff is filed under this section than is specified in the tariff, as may at the time be in force, or demand, collect, or receive any rate, toll, or charge for such service not specified in the tariff.

196.191(8) (8) A copy of the tariffs filed under this section shall be made available to consumers in a form and place readily accessible to the public.

196.191 History History: 2011 a. 22; 2021 a. 24.

196.192 196.192 Market-based compensation, rates and contracts.

196.192(1) (1) In this section:

196.192(1)(a) (a) “Electric public utility” means a public utility whose purpose is the generation, distribution and sale of electric energy.

196.192(1)(b) (b) “Electronics and information technology manufacturing zone” means a zone designated under s. 238.396 (1m).

196.192(2) (2) 

196.192(2)(bm) (bm) Except as provided in par. (br), the commission shall approve market-based rates for each investor-owned electric public utility that satisfy all of the following:

196.192(2)(bm)1. 1. The rates result in customers receiving market-based compensation for voluntary interruptions of firm load during peak periods of electric use.

196.192(2)(bm)2. 2. The rates include market-based pricing options and options for individual contracts that allow a retail customer, through service from its existing public utility, to receive market benefits and take market risks for the customer’s purchases of capacity or energy.

196.192(2)(br) (br) The commission may not approve a market-based rate under par. (bm) unless the commission determines that the rate will not harm shareholders of the investor-owned electric public utility or customers who are not subject to the rate.

196.192(2)(c) (c) Subject to any approval of the commission that is necessary, an electric public utility that is not an investor-owned electric public utility may implement market-based rates approved under par. (bm).

196.192(2m) (2m) 

196.192(2m)(a) (a) No later than January 1, 2020, an electric public utility providing service to an electronics and information technology manufacturing zone shall file with the commission tariffs that include market-based pricing and options that allow a new retail customer that is within the electronics and information technology manufacturing zone and that the commission determines is eligible for a credit under s. 71.07 (3wm) to receive market benefits and take market risks for some or all of the customer’s purchases of capacity or energy, subject to the maximum capacity or energy purchase limits that shall be established by the commission. The electric public utility shall include the following requirements in the tariffs:

196.192(2m)(a)1. 1. The customer shall annually nominate the amount of capacity and energy subject to the market-based tariff.

196.192(2m)(a)2. 2. The customer shall provide not less than 12 months’ notice to terminate service under the market-based tariff.

196.192(2m)(a)3. 3. The term of the market-based tariff may not be less than 10 years.

196.192(2m)(a)4. 4. The customer shall pay the difference, if any, between the otherwise applicable retail rate and the market-based tariff rate if the customer does any of the following:

196.192(2m)(a)4.a. a. Supplies false or misleading information regarding its applicability for the market-based tariff.

196.192(2m)(a)4.b. b. Leaves the electronics and information technology manufacturing zone to conduct substantially the same business outside the electronics and information technology manufacturing zone.

196.192(2m)(a)4.c. c. Ceases operations in the electronics and information technology manufacturing zone and does not renew operation of the business or a similar business within the electronics and information technology manufacturing zone within 12 months.

196.192(2m)(b) (b) The commission shall approve market-based rates that are consistent with par. (a).

196.192(3m) (3m) Nothing in s. 196.20, 196.22, 196.37, 196.60 or 196.604 prohibits the commission from approving a filing under sub. (2m) (a) or approving market-based rates under sub. (2) (bm) or (2m) (b).

196.192 History History: 1999 a. 9; 2013 a. 125; 2017 a. 58, 136.

196.193 196.193 Water and sewer rate increases without hearings.

196.193(1) (1) When permitted. The commission may grant a rate increase to a municipally owned water or a municipally owned combined water and sewer public utility without a hearing if all of the following conditions are met:

196.193(1)(a) (a) The revenue increase is calculated by multiplying the utility’s prior year’s revenues from sales of utility service by the rate increase factor under sub. (2).

196.193(1)(b) (b) The revenue increase under par. (a), combined with the prior year’s net operating income, either results in an overall rate of return that does not exceed the rate of return determined by the commission under sub. (3) or results in an amount that does not exceed 6 percent of the utility’s prior year’s total operation and maintenance expenses.

196.193(1)(c) (c) The utility will increase its rates for general service, wholesale service and public fire protection uniformly for all utility customers by the rate increase factor determined by the commission under sub. (2), unless the commission determines that the utility has good cause for not meeting the condition under this paragraph.

196.193(1)(d) (d) The effective date of the rate increase is not less than 12 months from the effective date of an increase previously filed under this section nor less than 45 days from the date on which the application was filed.

196.193(1)(e) (e) If the utility’s rates in effect prior to the rate increase under this section were authorized pursuant to a hearing under s. 196.20, the rates have been in effect for a calendar year.

196.193(1)(f) (f) The commission has not rejected the application for good cause.

196.193(1)(g) (g) If the utility has 4,000 or more customers, the effective date of the rate increase is not more than 5 years from the effective date of an increase authorized pursuant to a hearing under s. 196.20.

196.193(1)(h) (h) If the utility has less than 4,000 customers, the total of all prior rate increases granted since the last hearing under s. 196.20 does not result in rates that are more than 40 percent higher than the base rates previously authorized by a hearing under s. 196.20.

196.193(2) (2) Determination of the rate increase factor. Not later than March 1 annually, the commission shall set an increase factor to apply to rates of municipally owned water public utilities or municipally owned combined water and sewer public utilities. The factor shall be equal to the U.S. consumer price index for all urban consumers, U.S. city average, for the previous year; however, the factor may not be less than 3 percent nor more than 10 percent. The rate increase factor need not be defined by rule.

196.193(3) (3) Determination of an overall rate of return. Not later than March 1 annually, the commission shall set the overall rate of return to be applicable to municipally owned water public utilities or municipally owned combined water and sewer public utilities for rate increases under this section. The commission shall consider the interest rates for state and local bonds in setting the overall rate of return. The overall rate of return need not be defined by rule.

196.193(4) (4) Notice requirements. A utility seeking an increase in rates under this section shall notify all customers, upon a form approved by the commission, by newspaper publication or by mail. The utility shall include a copy of the issued notice in its filing of an application under this section. The notice shall include all of the following:

196.193(4)(a) (a) The anticipated date of filing of the rate increase application and the anticipated effective date of the rate increase.

196.193(4)(b) (b) The impact on customer bills resulting from the rate increase calculated for at least 5 different usage levels, including an average residential usage level.

196.193(4)(c) (c) A statement that the increase is being proposed under this section and that no hearing is required.

196.193(4)(d) (d) Other information required by the commission to be included in a notice under this subsection.

196.193 History History: 1995 a. 363; 2017 a. 136.

196.194 196.194 Gas utility individual contracts. Nothing in ss. 196.03, 196.19, 196.20, 196.22, 196.37, 196.60, 196.604 and 196.625 prohibits the commission from approving the filing of a tariff which permits a gas utility to enter into an individual contract with an individual customer if the term of the contract is no more than 5 years, or a longer period approved by the commission, and if the commission determines that substitute gas services are available to customers or potential customers of the gas utility and the absence of such a tariff will cause the gas utility to be disadvantaged in competing for business. A tariff filed under this section shall include the condition that any such contract shall be compensatory. The tariff shall include any other condition and procedure required by the commission in the public interest. Within 20 days after a contract authorized under this section or an amendment to such a contract has been executed, the gas utility shall submit the contract to the commission. The commission shall give notice to any person, upon request, that a contract authorized under this section has been received by the commission. The notice shall identify the gas utility that has entered into the contract. Within 6 months after receiving substantial evidence that a contract may be noncompensatory, or upon its own motion, the commission shall investigate and determine whether the contract is compensatory. If the commission determines that the contract is noncompensatory, the commission may make appropriate adjustments in the rates or tariffs of the gas utility that has entered into the contract, in addition to other remedies under this chapter. The dollar amount of the adjustment may not be less than the amount by which the contract was found to be noncompensatory.

196.194 History History: 1985 a. 297; 1993 a. 211, 496; 1995 a. 317; 1997 a. 90; 2011 a. 22; 2013 a. 125.

196.195 196.195 Alternative telecommunications regulation plans. Any telecommunications utility that as of June 9, 2011, is subject to an alternative regulation plan approved by the commission under s. 196.195, 2009 stats., shall remain regulated pursuant to such alternative regulation plan to the extent that the alternative regulation plan is not inconsistent with ss. 196.191 and 196.212, unless the telecommunications utility terminates the alternative regulation plan pursuant to the terms and conditions of the plan. If such an inconsistency exists, the requirements of ss. 196.191 and 196.212 shall apply to the intrastate switched access rates and intrastate switched access service tariff filings of such a telecommunications utility.

196.195 History History: 2011 a. 22.

196.197 196.197 Unbundled network elements.

196.197(1) (1) Applicability. This section applies to a petition to determine rates and costs of unbundled network elements or unbundled service elements under federal or state law, but does not apply to a petition for arbitration.