LoginHave Wisconsin electricity price increases exceeded the Midwest average for 20 years?
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Yes.
Wisconsin electricity rates β for residential, industrial and commercial users β have exceeded regionalΒ averages annually for 20 years.
From 2003 through 2022, Wisconsin rates exceeded the averages in each of the three user categories for eight Midwest states, Wisconsin Public Service Commission reports show.
For the three categories combined, Wisconsinβs rate was second-highest in 2023-24 and third-highest in 2024-25 among 12 central region states, federal Energy Information Administration figures show.
Here are the July 2025 cents-per-kilowatt hour rates in Wisconsin versus the north central region average:
Residential: $18.30/$17.84
Commercial: $13.39/$13.31
Industrial: $9.87/$9.46
Electric bills rose for residential customers of Wisconsinβs five largest utilities, according to the Wisconsin Citizens Utility Board. For example, the average monthly We Energies bill for a typical residential customer was $128.65 in 2024, twice as high as $56.18 for 2004.
Booming data center construction in Wisconsin could affect utility rates.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
- Wisconsin Public Service Commission: Strategic Energy Assessment reports
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: Electric Power Monthly
- Wisconsin Citizens Utility Board: We Energies residential average bills
- Wisconsin Watch: Data center construction is booming, and it could affect utility rates
Have Wisconsin electricity price increases exceeded the Midwest average for 20 years? is a post from Wisconsin Watch, a non-profit investigative news site covering Wisconsin since 2009. Please consider making a contribution to support our journalism.
