Overview
The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) is an independent regulatory agency
dedicated to serving the public interest. The agency is responsible for the regulation
of Wisconsin public utilities, including those that are municipally-owned,
since 1907.
Types of utilities regulated include electric, natural gas, water, combined water and sewer utilities
and certain aspects of local telephone service. More than 1,100 utilities are under the agency's jurisdiction.
Most of these must obtain PSC approval before:
- Setting new rates
- Issuing stocks or bonds
- Undertaking major construction projects such as power plants, water wells, and
transmission lines.
What We Do
The PSC works to ensure that, in the absence of competition, adequate and reasonably priced service
is provided to utility customers. PSC approval is required before utilities can change rates
or build large power plant and major transmission lines. The PSC has specific rules it
must follow prior to making decisions during the
Application Review Process.
Organization
The PSC is composed of three full-time Commissioners that have oversight of all PSC staff related activities.
PSC staff consists of auditors, accountants, engineers, rate analysts, attorneys, planners, research
analysts, economists, consumer analysts, consumer specialists, court reporters and paraprofessional and
administrative support personnel. These experts work in an advisory role to the Commissioners.
Gas and Energy Division
The Gas and
Energy Division is responsible for all major
aspects of the PSC regulation of electric utilities and provision of natural gas service.
Telecommunications Division
This area is currently being revised.
Division of Water, Compliance, and Consumer Affairs
The Water unit is responsible for the regulation of water and combined water and sewer public
utilities in Wisconsin.
The Consumer Affairs unit offers assistance to all of the state’s utilities in
compliance with the statutes, code and the development of consumer affairs policies. Consumer Affairs
coordinates consumer information and resolution of consumer complaints.
Division of Administrative Services
The Division of Administrative Services provides the agency's human
resources, information technology resources and business management services.
These services include:
- Administering employee training and development, recruitment, compensation, and benefits
program, and coordinating the agency's affirmative action/equal employment opportunity and
employee assistance programs
- Managing the PSC's technology, data and information, including data processing services
management of computer hardware and software resources, and promotion of more efficient
business practices through the deployment of information technology which supports the
agency's strategic business objectives; and
- Budget development, revenue collection, intervenor financing coordination, facilities
management and procurement.
Administrative Services also has a central Records Management staff to provide agency staff
with printing, mail and case file services. The division also provides administrative support to the Office
of the Commissioner of Railroads.
Office of General Counsel / Administrative Law Judge
The Office of General Counsel consists of the Commission's lawyers. The Office of General
counsel provides all legal services to the agency.
The Office of Administrative Law Judge consists of the administrative law judge (ALJ)
and support staff. The ALJ presides over hearings conducted by the Commission.
Parallel Agencies
The PSC has sole jurisdiction for utility regulation on the state level, but several agencies
on the federal level perform parallel regulatory functions. These include the Federal
Communications Commission, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission, and the Department of Energy.
All divisions represent the PSC on state and national committees requiring staff expertise
on utility matters.
Bilingual Service - Servicio Bilingüe
The PSC is also able to provide customer assistance in Spanish. When calling the PSC, please
ask to speak to a Spanish speaking representative.
En la Comisión de Servicios Públicos del estado de Wisconsin (PSC) podemos
asistirles en Español. Cuando llame a la PSC, pida hablar con un representante de habla
hispana.
To contact the PSC call (608) 266-2001 within Madison. If you are out of Madison,
dial 1 (800) CAL- PSCW (225-7729); or write to:
Public Service Commission of Wisconsin
Consumer Affairs
P.O. Box 7854
Madison, WI 53707-7854
The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin does not discriminate on the basis
of disability in the provision of programs, services, or employment. If you are speech,
hearing, or visually impaired and need assistance, call (608) 266-5481 or TTY
(608) 267-1479. We will try to find another way to get the information to you in
a usable form.
FAX (608) 266-3957
TTY (608) 267-1479
Consumer Affairs (800) 225-7729
General (608) 266-5481
General Toll Free (888)816-3831
Email PSCRECS@Wisconsin.gov
Web Site http://psc.wi.gov/
PO Box 7854
610 N. Whitney Way
Madison, Wisconsin 53707-7854
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