Effective July 1, 2007, all electric utility customers in Wisconsin will have a State Low-Income Assistance Fee added to their monthly electric bills. This fee funds energy efficiency and utility bill payment assistance to low-income customers across the state. Utility companies collect the fee on behalf of the state but will not profit from it.

How much is the State Low-Income Assistance Fee?

For residential customers, the fee is a maximum of $0.10360 per day, per electric meter (typically about $3.15 per month).

For business customers, the fee is a maximum of:

• $0.19408 per day, per electric meter with electric demands up to 200 kW (typically about $5.90 per month, per meter).
• $5.23026 per day, per electric meter with electric demands greater than 200 kW (typically about $159 per month, per meter).

Is there a fee cap?

Yes. The amount of the State Low-Income Assistance Fee will never be more than 3% of your charges for electric service in a given month.

The amount any customer has to pay for this fee in one month may not exceed $750. Customers with multiple meters may apply to MGE for a refund of payments that exceed this monthly cap.

What happened to the Nontaxable Fixed Charge for Public Benefits?

The 2005 Wisconsin Act 141 restructured statewide public benefit programs. Among the changes, low-income benefits previously recovered through the nontaxable fixed charge for public benefits are now collected through the State Low-Income Assistance Fee. Statewide energy efficiency and renewable resource programs previously part of the public benefits program are funded through utility company rates beginning in 2008.

For more information
Residential electric rates
Business electric rates