We Energies proposes big electric bill increase
By CHRISTOPHER DIEM Journal Staff WriterMARQUETTE - We Energies customers in the Upper Peninsula may be faced with a 33 percent increase in their monthly electric bills next year.
We Energies, which owns the Presque Isle Power Plant, officials submitted the proposed rate increase to the Michigan Public Service Commission today. We Energies proposes to increase rates 16 percent in January 2010 and may raise the rates an additional 17 percent in July 2010.
The increase is primarily due to two new generator units coming online at the Elm Road Generating Station in Oak Creek, Wis.
One of We Energies biggest customers in the U.P. is Cliffs Natural Resources. According to Dale Hemmila, Cliffs spokesman in Ishpeming, the Empire and Tilden mines are scheduled to pay $69 million for electricity in 2009. Hemmila said the proposed rate increase endangers Cliff's proposed expansion of operations at the Empire Mine.
