Milwaukee alderman upset with We Energies rate hike

MILWAUKEE -- One Milwaukee alderman says We Energies is bullying its customers, and is leading the charged to stop the utility from raising its rates.

Milwaukee Alderman Tony Zielinski says the rate increase by We Energies is strictly based on greed. He introduced a resolution to express the city's concern over the We Energies proposed 2015-2016 5% rate increase.

We Energies wants to raise the fixed service cost on a resident's energy bill from $9 per month to $16 per month. The company also proposes fees for clean energy generation and limits on solar ownership in its service area. 

The company believes since all customers use the energy grid, they should all pay their fair share. Alderman Zielinski believes this will have significant impacts on the state's environment and economy. \"What is really frustrating about all this is that they are a public utility that's granted a monopoly and they are taking their interests above those of the community as a whole and they shouldn't be doing that as a public utility,\" says Zielinski.

The resolution was sent to the judiciary committee.