Legislator wants to audit Focus On Energy program

Talk about it

Senate Republican Rob Cowles of Green Bay says before the Legislature agrees to give the program more money, he wants to make sure Wisconsin’s Focus On Energy program is actually doing what it claims.

The FOE efficiency programs are funded by surcharges on people’s electric bills. And the state Public Service Commission recently voted to raise those charges by $20 million dollars next year, $60-million in 2012, and higher amounts in 2013-2014.

But several business groups have come out against the increases, so the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee will review them. Ed Wilusz of the Wisconsin Paper Council says the current Focus On Energy program is working well – and his group doubts whether the added funding would be necessary or effective.

Cowles says the economy is still in bad shape, and families remain hard pressed to pay higher electric bills. But supporters say the efficiency programs more than pay for themselves over time.

Teresa Weidemann-Smith of the PSC says independent groups have found that the Focus-on-Energy programs cut $2.20 in energy costs for every $1 that’s invested. And she said the programs are popular with consumers; usage of them is up 25% from a year ago.

Tags: wisconsin, energy, government