Vote on Xcel rate hike coming Thursday

Company could hike rates by $10

Ten dollars might not seem like a big deal to many of us, but customers of Xcel Energy don’t want to see a that increase on their monthly electric bills.

That would be a hike in the fixed charge for using Xcel, and La Crosse customer Tom Pyrek says it’s unfair to people who have been working hard to save energy. 

The Sierra Club brought Pyrek, and others, together Tuesday at the Root Note in La Crosse to speak out against the fee change, which comes up for a vote before the Wisconsin Public Service Commission on Thursday. 

Minnesota recently turned down a similar rate hike for Xcel in that state.