About the PSC

• PSC Overview
• Organization
• Gas and Energy Division
• Telecommunications Division
• Division of Water, Compliance and Consumer Affairs
• Division of Administrative Services
• Office of General Counsel
• Office of Administrative Law Judge

PSC 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.

Typical types of utilities regulated include electric, natural gas, telephone, water, and combined water and sewer. More than 1,300 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.

The PSC works to ensure that, in the absence of competition, adequate and reasonably priced service is provided to utility customers.

In Wisconsin, most activities of the 28 electric cooperatives are not under the jurisdiction of the PSC. Energy sources like fuel oil, propane, coal, natural gas and gasoline are not under the PSC’s jurisdiction. The PSC does not regulate cellular telephones or cable television services.

Organization
The PSC is composed of three full-time Commissioners who decide the cases brought to the PSC for changes in utility operations, rates and for construction projects after a complete and thorough review of all the records compiled in the case, including public comments. Commissioners are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the State Senate for staggered, six-year terms.

One of these Commissioners is appointed chairperson by the Governor for a two-year term. The Commissioners’ Office, under the direction of the Chairperson, has oversight of all PSC staff related activities.

PSC staff consist of auditors, accountants, engineers, rate analysts, attorneys, planners, research analysts, economists, 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 Electric Division is responsible for all major aspects of the PSC regulation of electric utilities and provision of natural gas service.

• PSC approval is required before utilities can change rates or build large power plant and major transmission lines.
• PSC looks at need, alternatives, costs, and environmental impacts in construction cases
• PSC investigates and addresses stray voltage problems on farms.
• PSC reviews utility finances, corporate structure, merger applications, affiliated interests, and has responsibilities as a small business advocate
• PSC develops short- and long-range plans for regulating natural gas utilities which include:


• Analyzing natural gas price impacts on economic and finance policy
• Auditing utilities’ accounting practices and financial records in conjunction with rate cases
• Assuring service adequacy, reliability, and safety

Telecommunications Division
The Telecommunications Division is responsible for regulating providers of telecommunications services subject to PSC jurisdiction within the mandates and direction of Wisconsin’s "Telecommunications Superhighway" legislation passed in 1994 and, more currently, the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996. The PSC works to promote competition in the state’s telecommunications markets, to ensure access to modern and affordable telecommunications throughout the state, and to protect consumers. The division oversees

• Price regulation plans and other alternative forms of regulation for telecommunication utilities
• Reviews earnings and rate levels for utilities still subject to rate jurisdiction
• Develops procedures for the transition to competitive markets
• Monitors service quality
• Reviews tariffs, contracts, and agreements to prevent unfair cross-subsidy and anti-competitive actions
• Resolves interconnection disputes between service providers
• Administers universal service programs
• Monitors the deployment of advanced telecommunications infrastructure
• Advises the Federal Communications Commission on matters pertaining to Wisconsin’s interests in federal telecommunications policy.

Division of Water, Compliance, and Consumer Affairs
The Division of Water, Compliance, and Consumer Affairs is responsible for the regulation of water and combined water and sewer public utilities in Wisconsin. The division offers assistance to all of the state’s utilities in compliance with the statutes, code, and record keeping requirements and the development of consumer affairs policies. It also 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
The Office of General Counsel consists of the Commission's lawyers. The Office of General counsel provides all legal services to the agency.

Office of Administrative Law Judge
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: