Chapter 196 — REGULATION OF PUBLIC UTILITIES
57 sections in this chapter.
Wis. Stat. § 196.01 Definitions
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196.01 Definitions. As used in this chapter and ch. 197, unless the context requires otherwise: (1b) “Access service” means the provision of switched or dedicated access to a local exchange network for the purpose of enabling a telecommunications provider to originate or terminat…
Wis. Stat. § 196.012 Interstate commerce
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196.012 Interstate commerce. This chapter applies to interstate commerce only so far as the constitution and laws of the United States permit. History: 2005 a. 179 s. 99; Stats. 2005 s. 196.012.
Wis. Stat. § 196.015 Total service long-run incremental cost
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196.015 Total service long-run incremental cost. (1) In this section, “basic network function” means the smallest disaggregation of local exchange transport, switching and loop functions that is capable of being separately listed in a tariff and offered for sale. (2) In this chap…
Wis. Stat. § 196.016 Relationship to certain federal telecommunications law
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196.016 Relationship to certain federal telecommunications law. Except as provided in s. 196.50 (2) (j) 2. and 3., nothing in this chapter is intended to either reduce or expand the scope and application of the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996, P.L. 104-104, including the j…
Wis. Stat. § 196.02 Commission’s powers
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196.02 Commission’s powers. (1) JURISDICTION. The commission has jurisdiction to supervise and regulate every public utility in this state and to do all things necessary and convenient to its jurisdiction. (2) DEFINITION; CLASSIFICATION. The commission shall provide for a compreh…
Wis. Stat. § 196.025 Duties of the commission
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196.025 Duties of the commission. (1) STATE ENERGY POLICY. (ag) Definitions. In this subsection: 1. “Renewable resource” has the meaning given in s. 196.374 (1) (j). 2. “Wholesale supplier” has the meaning given in s. 16.957 (1) (w). (ar) Consideration of energy priorities. Excep…
Wis. Stat. § 196.026 Settlements
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196.026 Settlements. (1) All parties to dockets before the commission are encouraged to enter into settlements when possible. (2) In this section, “docket” means an investigation, proceeding, or other matter opened by a vote of the commission, except for rule making. (3) Parties …
Wis. Stat. § 196.027 Environmental trust financing
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196.027 Environmental trust financing. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (a) “Ancillary agreement” means any bond insurance policy or other financial arrangement entered into in connection with the issuance of environmental trust bonds. (b) “Assignee” means any person to which an…
Wis. Stat. § 196.029 Energy administration
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196.029 Energy administration. (1) INFORMATION. If the governor determines that a disruption of energy supplies poses a serious risk to the economic well-being, health or welfare of the citizens of this state, the governor may issue an order Updated 23-24 Wis. Stats. 10 declaring…
Wis. Stat. § 196.03 Utility charges and service; reasonable and adequate
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196.03 Utility charges and service; reasonable and adequate. (1) Subject to s. 196.63, a public utility shall furnish reasonably adequate service and facilities. The charge made by any public utility for any heat, light, water, telecommunica- May 22, 2026, are designated by NOTES…
Wis. Stat. § 196.04 Facilities granted other utilities; physical telecommunications connections; petition; investigation
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196.04 Facilities granted other utilities; physical telecommunications connections; petition; investigation. (1) (a) Definitions. In this section: 2. “Physical connection” means the number of trunk lines or complete circuits and connections, including connections by wire, optics,…
Wis. Stat. § 196.05 Public utility property; valuation; revaluation
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196.05 Public utility property; valuation; revaluation. If the commission deems it proper or necessary for effective regulation, the commission shall value or revalue all the property of every public utility actually used and useful for the convenience of the public. History: 198…
Wis. Stat. § 196.06 Uniform accounting; forms; books; office
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196.06 Uniform accounting; forms; books; office. (1) Every public utility shall keep and render to the commission in the manner and form prescribed by the commission uniform accounts of all business transacted. (2) The commission may require any public utility engaged directly or…
Wis. Stat. § 196.07 Balance sheet filed annually
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196.07 Balance sheet filed annually. (1) Each public utility shall close its accounts annually on December 31 and promptly prepare a balance sheet of that date. On or before the following May 1 every public utility shall file with the commission the balance sheet; counts of the n…
Wis. Stat. § 196.08 Audit and inspection
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196.08 Audit and inspection. The commission shall provide for the examination and audit of all accounts, and all items shall be allocated to the accounts in the manner prescribed by the commission. History: 1975 c. 142; 1983 a. 53; 1985 a. 297.
Wis. Stat. § 196.09 Depreciation rates and practices; findings by commission; dividends from reserves; retirements
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196.09 Depreciation rates and practices; findings by commission; dividends from reserves; retirements. (1) Every public utility shall file with the commission, within such time as may be required by the commission, its estimate of the annual rate of depreciation required for each…
Wis. Stat. § 196.10 Construction; accounting
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196.10 Construction; accounting. The commission shall keep itself informed of all new construction, extensions and additions to the property of public utilities, and shall prescribe the necessary forms, regulations and instructions for the keeping of construction accounts, which …
Wis. Stat. § 196.11 Profit sharing and sliding scales
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196.11 Profit sharing and sliding scales. (1) A public utility may enter into any reasonable arrangement with its consumers or employees, for the division or distribution of its surplus profits, or providing for a sliding scale of charges, or other financial device if the arrange…
Wis. Stat. § 196.12 Report by public utilities; items
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196.12 Report by public utilities; items. (1) Each public utility shall furnish to the commission, in the form and at the time the commission requires, accounts, reports or other information which shows in itemized detail: (a) Depreciation. (b) Salaries and wages. (c) Legal expen…
Wis. Stat. § 196.13 Commission’s report
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196.13 Commission’s report. (1) The commission shall publish biennial reports showing its proceedings together with any financial or other data which concerns and is appropriate for all public utilities and may publish any other report related to public utilities. (2) The commiss…
Wis. Stat. § 196.135 Confidential handling of records
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196.135 Confidential handling of records. (1) DEFINITION. In this section, “record” has the meaning given in s. 19.32 (2). (2) RULES. The commission shall promulgate rules establishing requirements and procedures for the confidential handling of records filed with the commission.…
Wis. Stat. § 196.137 Municipal utility customer information
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196.137 Municipal utility customer information. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (a) “Customer information” means any information received from customers which serves to identify customers individually by usage or account status. (b) “Municipal utility” has the meaning given in …
Wis. Stat. § 196.14 Public record exception
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196.14 Public record exception. The commission may withhold from public inspection any information which would aid a competitor of a public utility in competition with the public utility. History: 1983 a. 53; 1985 a. 236, 297. Cross-reference: See s. 19.36 for other public record…
Wis. Stat. § 196.15 Units of product or service
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196.15 Units of product or service. The commission shall prescribe for each kind of public utility, other than a telecommunications utility, suitable and convenient standard commercial units of product or service. History: 1993 a. 496. Cross-reference: See also chs. PSC 113, 134,…
Wis. Stat. § 196.16 Standard measurements; accurate appliances
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196.16 Standard measurements; accurate appliances. (1) The commission shall fix adequate and serviceable standards for the measurement of quality, pressure, initial voltage or other condition pertaining to the supply of the product or service rendered by a public utility. The com…
Wis. Stat. § 196.17 Tests of meters; fees
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196.17 Tests of meters; fees. (1) The commission shall provide for the examination and testing of every appliance used for measuring any product or service of a public utility. (2) Any consumer may have an appliance tested under this section upon payment of a fee fixed by the com…
Wis. Stat. § 196.171 Examination of meters, pipes, fittings, wires and works; entering buildings for
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196.171 Examination of meters, pipes, fittings, wires and works; entering buildings for. (1) Any officer or agent of any public utility furnishing or transmitting water, gas or electric current to the public or for public purposes may enter, at any reasonable time, any place supp…
Wis. Stat. § 196.175 Construction and occupancy standards
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196.175 Construction and occupancy standards. The commission may not establish or enforce construction or occupancy standards applicable to any public building, as defined in s. 101.01 (12), dwelling, as defined in s. 101.71 (2) or any occupancy standard applicable to any place o…
Wis. Stat. § 196.18 Entry upon premises
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196.18 Entry upon premises. The commission, its agents, experts or examiners may enter any premises occupied by a public utility to make any examination or test under this chapter and may set up and use on the premises any apparatus or appliance and occupy reasonable space for th…
Wis. Stat. § 196.19 Publish schedules; regulations; files; joint rates
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196.19 Publish schedules; regulations; files; joint rates. (1) Each public utility shall file with the commission schedules showing all rates, tolls and charges which it has established and which are in force at the time for any service performed by it within the state, or for an…
Wis. Stat. § 196.191 Telecommunications utility and alternative telecommunications utility tariffs
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196.191 Telecommunications utility and alternative telecommunications utility tariffs. (1) No later than the 90th day beginning after June 9, 2011, any telecommunications utility or alternative telecommunications utility that provides intrastate switched access service within thi…
Wis. Stat. § 196.192 Market-based compensation, rates and contracts
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196.192 Market-based compensation, rates and contracts. (1) In this section: (a) “Electric public utility” means a public utility whose purpose is the generation, distribution and sale of electric energy. (b) “Electronics and information technology manufacturing zone” means a zon…
Wis. Stat. § 196.193 Water and sewer rate increases without hearings
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196.193 Water and sewer rate increases without hearings. (1) WHEN PERMITTED. The commission may grant a rate increase to a municipally owned water or a municipally owned combined water and sewer public utility without a hearing if all of the following conditions are met: (a) The …
Wis. Stat. § 196.194 Gas utility individual contracts
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196.194 Gas utility individual contracts. Nothing in ss. 196.03, 196.19, 196.20, 196.22, 196.37, 196.60, 196.604 and 196.625 prohibits the commission from approving the filing of a tariff which permits a gas utility to enter into an individual contract with an individual customer…
Wis. Stat. § 196.195 Alternative telecommunications regulation plans
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196.195 Alternative telecommunications regulation plans. Any telecommunications utility that as of June 9, 2011, is subject to an alternative regulation plan approved by the commission under s. 196.195, 2009 stats., shall remain regulated pursuant to such alternative regulation p…
Wis. Stat. § 196.197 Unbundled network elements
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196.197 Unbundled network elements. (1) APPLICABILITY. This section applies to a petition to determine rates and costs of unbundled network elements or unbundled service elements under federal or state law, but does not apply to a petition for arbitration. (2) PETITIONS. (a) A te…
Wis. Stat. § 196.198 Local measured telecommunications service
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196.198 Local measured telecommunications service. (1) In this section, “extended community telephone service” means a telecommunications service by which a customer in one exchange may call a customer in another exchange or combination of exchanges under a discounted toll charge…
Wis. Stat. § 196.199 Interconnection agreements
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196.199 Interconnection agreements. (1) DEFINITION. In this section, “interconnection agreement” does not include an interconnection agreement to which a commercial mobile radio service provider is a party. (2) COMMISSION POWERS. (a) The commission has jurisdiction to approve and…
Wis. Stat. § 196.20 Rules on service; changes in rates
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196.20 Rules on service; changes in rates. (1) The rate schedules of any public utility shall include all rules applicable to the rendition or discontinuance of the service to which the rates specified in the schedules are applicable. No change may be made by any public utility i…
Wis. Stat. § 196.201 Regulation of private shared telecommunications systems
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196.201 Regulation of private shared telecommunications systems. (1) DEFINITION. In this section, “private shared telecommunications system” means plant or equipment used to provide telecommunications service through privately owned customer premises equipment to a user group loc…
Wis. Stat. § 196.202 Exemption of commercial mobile radio service providers
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196.202 Exemption of commercial mobile radio service providers. (2) SCOPE OF REGULATION. A commercial mobile radio service provider is not subject to this chapter, except as provided in sub. (5), and except that a commercial mobile radio service provider is subject to ss. 196.025…
Wis. Stat. § 196.203 Exemption of alternative telecommunications utilities
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196.203 Exemption of alternative telecommunications utilities. (1d) In this section, “local government telecommunications utility” has the meaning given in s. 196.204 (1m) (a). (1g) Alternative telecommunications utilities are exempt from all provisions of this chapter, except as…
Wis. Stat. § 196.204 Local government telecommunications utilities
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196.204 Local government telecommunications utilities. (1m) In this section: (a) “Local government telecommunications utility” means a municipality that owns, operates, manages, or controls any plant or equipment, or that wholly owns, operates, manages, or controls any entity tha…
Wis. Stat. § 196.205 Election of rate regulation
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196.205 Election of rate regulation. A telecommunications cooperative, an unincorporated telecommunications cooperative association, or a small telecommunications utility may elect to be subject to ss. 196.28 and 196.37 as they apply to any rate, toll, or charge and to s. 196.11 …
Wis. Stat. § 196.206 Interconnected voice over Internet protocol service
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196.206 Interconnected voice over Internet protocol service. (1) EXEMPTIONS. An interconnected voice over Internet protocol service is not subject to this chapter, except as provided in this section, and except that an interconnected voice over Internet protocol service is subjec…
Wis. Stat. § 196.207 Telephone caller identification services
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196.207 Telephone caller identification services. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (a) “Inbound wide-area telecommunications service” means a telecommunications service that allows a subscriber to the service to receive telephone calls from selected service areas at no charge to…
Wis. Stat. § 196.208 Telecommunications pay-per-call and toll-free services
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196.208 Telecommunications pay-per-call and tollfree services. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (a) “Pay-per-call service” means a telecommunications service that permits simultaneous calling by a large number of callers to a single telephone number and for which the customer is…
Wis. Stat. § 196.212 Switched access rates
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196.212 or 196.219 and only to the extent that s. 196.212 or
Wis. Stat. § 196.216 Small telecommunications utilities as small businesses
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196.216 Small telecommunications utilities as small businesses. A small telecommunications utility is a small business for the purposes of s. 227.114. History: 1985 a. 297; 1987 a. 403 s. 256.
Wis. Stat. § 196.217 Average toll rates
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196.217 Average toll rates. (1) DIFFERENT RATES RESTRICTED. A telecommunications utility may not charge different rates for residential basic message telecommunications service, business basic message telecommunications service, or singleline wide-area telecommunications service …