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Xcel Energy (Northern States Power) rates in Wisconsin

Xcel Energy's 222,746 residential customers in Wisconsin paid an average of 15.56¢ per kWh in 2025, for an average bill of $112.86 a month on 726 kWh.1 Over the last 12 months (Sep 2025–Aug 2026) the average was 16.86¢, and 18.28¢ in August 2026.2

EIA-861 2025 final (released October 7, 2026) and EIA's monthly utility survey through August 2026 (preliminary); next monthly update expected November 24, 2026. Averages are revenue divided by kWh, all charges included: not the rate printed in a tariff.

28 of 72 Wisconsin counties served (EIA-861 2025)

Among Wisconsin's five largest utilities, Xcel Energy's homes paid the lowest residential average in 2025, 15.56¢ per kWh, and the price slipped 1.7%1 from 2024 while the state average rose 5.2%11. They also used the most electricity per home, so the bill sits mid-pack, and EIA's preliminary August 20263 figure was +11.1%2 on a year earlier.

Xcel's Wisconsin price, period by period

"Xcel Energy Wisconsin rates" has three answers in EIA's data, one per period, and all three are averages rather than tariff prices:

  • 2025, full year: 15.56¢ per kWh on average for 222,7461 residential customers (EIA-861, final).
  • Last 12 months, September 2025 to August 2026: 16.86¢ per kWh (EIA-861M monthly survey; months from January 2026 are preliminary).
  • August 20263 alone: 18.28¢ per kWh2, a single summer month, preliminary.

Each is average revenue per kWh: everything billed to homes, including the monthly customer charge, fuel cost recovery and riders, divided by the kWh they used. Taxes are mostly left out. A household that uses little pays more than the average per kWh once the fixed charge is spread over its usage, and a large user pays less.

The 2025 figure was 13.9% below the Wisconsin average, 12.5% below the national average for investor-owned utilities, and the 10th lowest of the 20 Wisconsin utilities with 10,000 or more residential customers. Among the 177 large utilities nationwide it ranked 80th highest of 177, close to the median of 15.07¢ per kWh1.

The lowest price of Wisconsin's big five, the highest use

Five utilities serve 84.4% of Wisconsin's residential customers. In 2025 Xcel's homes paid less per kWh than any of the other four: Wisconsin Public Service averaged 17.20¢ per kWh, Alliant Energy (WPL) 18.47¢ per kWh, We Energies 20.53¢ per kWh and MGE 21.11¢ per kWh. Across all of Wisconsin's investor-owned utilities the average was 18.94¢ per kWh. As groups, Wisconsin's municipal utilities averaged 12.75¢ per kWh and its cooperatives 16.29¢ per kWh1.

Average residential price, Wisconsin's five largest utilities, 2025
Xcel Energy (WI)15.56¢
Wisconsin Public Service (WI)17.20¢
Alliant Energy (WPL) (WI)18.47¢
We Energies (WI)20.53¢
MGE (WI)21.11¢

Source: EIA-861 annual electric power industry report, 2025 final. EIA-861 2025 final. Average revenue per kWh is all charges divided by kWh; it is not a tariff rate.

Show the numbers
Utilityaverage residential price (bundled customers)
Xcel Energy (WI)15.56¢
Wisconsin Public Service (WI)17.20¢
Alliant Energy (WPL) (WI)18.47¢
We Energies (WI)20.53¢
MGE (WI)21.11¢

Over the last 12 months (September 2025 to August 2026), on EIA's preliminary monthly data, the averages were 16.86¢ per kWh at Xcel, 17.58¢ per kWh at Wisconsin Public Service, 18.93¢ per kWh at Alliant, and 21.27¢ per kWh at We Energies and 21.27¢ per kWh2 at MGE.

Bills tell a different story because Xcel homes buy more electricity. The average Xcel residential customer used 726 kWh a month in 2025, against 694 kWh at Alliant, 640 kWh at We Energies, 616 kWh at Wisconsin Public Service, 505 kWh at MGE and 667 kWh statewide. The result was an average bill of $112.86: below We Energies ($131.37), Alliant ($128.22) and the state average ($120.604), but above Wisconsin Public Service ($105.93) and MGE ($106.581), whose customers paid more per kWh and used much less.

Electricity used per home each month, the same five utilities, 2025
MGE (WI)505
Wisconsin Public Service (WI)616
We Energies (WI)640
Alliant Energy (WPL) (WI)694
Xcel Energy (WI)726

Source: EIA-861 annual electric power industry report, 2025 final. EIA-861 2025 final. Average revenue per kWh is all charges divided by kWh; it is not a tariff rate.

Show the numbers
Utilityaverage monthly residential use
MGE (WI)505
Wisconsin Public Service (WI)616
We Energies (WI)640
Alliant Energy (WPL) (WI)694
Xcel Energy (WI)726

Rate increase: a dip in 2025, a jump in 2026

From 2024 to 2025, Xcel's Wisconsin residential average fell from 15.83¢ per kWh to 15.56¢ per kWh (−1.7%). Each of the other four large utilities rose over the same period, from +3.8% at MGE to +9.4% at Alliant. The average Xcel bill still went up, from $109.30 to $112.86 (+3.3%), because use per home grew from 691 kWh5 to 726 kWh1 a month.

The preliminary 2026 months point the other way. The 12-month average to August 2026, 16.86¢ per kWh, is above the 2025 figure, and in August 2026 Xcel's homes paid 18.28¢ per kWh, +11.1% against August 2025. In the same comparison We Energies was +5.6%, Alliant +3.9%, Wisconsin Public Service +3.4%, MGE +1.0%2 and the statewide residential average +5.3%3. A single month also reflects fuel costs and billing timing, and EIA replaces these preliminary 2026 figures with final annual data in August 2027.

Xcel Energy: residential price each month, Jan 2025 to Aug 2026
Xcel Energy: residential price each month, Jan 2025 to Aug 202612¢14¢16¢18¢20252026

Source: EIA-861M monthly sales and revenue by utility; EIA, Electric Power Monthly / EIA-861M sales and revenue by state. Residential revenue divided by kWh in each month, as reported to EIA's monthly survey (EIA-861M; months since January 2026 preliminary).

Show the numbers
MonthXcel Energy (¢/kWh)kWh per customerBill per customer
January 202515.04¢906$136.33
February 202515.18¢762$115.70
March 202515.39¢704$108.32
April 202515.55¢620$96.46
May 202515.88¢582$92.33
June 202516.65¢699$116.30
July 202516.13¢883$142.35
August 202516.45¢763$125.59
September 202514.47¢627$90.73
October 202515.53¢632$98.11
November 202515.50¢643$99.64
December 202514.94¢887$132.51
January 202616.85¢922$155.36
February 202617.24¢727$125.32
March 202617.18¢710$122.00
April 202617.69¢598$105.78
May 202617.86¢577$102.99
June 202618.41¢689$126.80
July 202617.97¢960$172.50
August 202618.28¢810$147.99

Xcel's Wisconsin base rates are set by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin in rate cases; the utility's applications, the staff's testimony and the commission's orders are filed in the commission's electronic records system. A rate change shows up in EIA's averages only as customers are billed under it. The guide to rate increases explains how a case reaches the bill.

Same July use as We Energies, a smaller July bill

Over the last 12 months, use per Xcel home ranged from 577 kWh in May 2026 to 960 kWh in July 2026, and the average bill in those two months from $102.99 to $172.502.

Xcel Energy: average residential use and bill by month

Source: EIA-861M monthly sales and revenue by utility. kWh per residential customer in each month (EIA-861M; months since January 2026 preliminary). The table adds the average bill and price for the month.

Show the numbers
MonthkWh per customerBill per customer¢/kWh
September 2025627$90.7314.47¢
October 2025632$98.1115.53¢
November 2025643$99.6415.50¢
December 2025887$132.5114.94¢
January 2026922$155.3616.85¢
February 2026727$125.3217.24¢
March 2026710$122.0017.18¢
April 2026598$105.7817.69¢
May 2026577$102.9917.86¢
June 2026689$126.8018.41¢
July 2026960$172.5017.97¢
August 2026810$147.9918.28¢

The July figures show the price gap in dollars. We Energies homes used 956 kWh in July 2026, almost the same as Xcel's, and their average bill was $201.64; Alliant's homes used 1,027 kWh and paid $189.112.

Northern States Power Company (Wisconsin) and where it serves

Many people look this utility up by its legal name, Northern States Power Company (Wisconsin), EIA utility number 13780. It is one of Xcel Energy's 5 operating utilities with pages here, and it is cheaper per kWh than its Minnesota sister, Northern States Power Company (Minnesota), which averaged 17.07¢ per kWh1 in 2025, the highest in the group. The Xcel Energy page compares all five.

EIA's service-territory records place Xcel's Wisconsin customers in 28 counties in the west and north of the state, including Ashland County, Barron County, Bayfield County, Buffalo County, Chippewa County, Clark County, Crawford County, Dunn County, Eau Claire County, Iron County, Jackson County, La Crosse County and 16 others. In all 286 of them at least one other utility also reports customers, so a county or city name does not settle who serves a home. Xcel's service-area map decides by address.

Counties where Xcel Energy reports customers in Wisconsin
Counties where Xcel Energy reports customers in WisconsinAdams County: not served by Xcel EnergyAshland County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 3 other utilitiesBarron County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 9 other utilitiesBayfield County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 2 other utilitiesBrown County: not served by Xcel EnergyBuffalo County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 3 other utilitiesBurnett County: not served by Xcel EnergyCalumet County: not served by Xcel EnergyChippewa County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 9 other utilitiesClark County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 5 other utilitiesColumbia County: not served by Xcel EnergyCrawford County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 4 other utilitiesDane County: not served by Xcel EnergyDodge County: not served by Xcel EnergyDoor County: not served by Xcel EnergyDouglas County: not served by Xcel EnergyDunn County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 6 other utilitiesEau Claire County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 3 other utilitiesFlorence County: not served by Xcel EnergyFond du Lac County: not served by Xcel EnergyForest County: not served by Xcel EnergyGrant County: not served by Xcel EnergyGreen County: not served by Xcel EnergyGreen Lake County: not served by Xcel EnergyIowa County: not served by Xcel EnergyIron County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 3 other utilitiesJackson County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 8 other utilitiesJefferson County: not served by Xcel EnergyJuneau County: not served by Xcel EnergyKenosha County: not served by Xcel EnergyKewaunee County: not served by Xcel EnergyLa Crosse County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 4 other utilitiesLafayette County: not served by Xcel EnergyLanglade County: not served by Xcel EnergyLincoln County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 3 other utilitiesManitowoc County: not served by Xcel EnergyMarathon County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 7 other utilitiesMarinette County: not served by Xcel EnergyMarquette County: not served by Xcel EnergyMenominee County: not served by Xcel EnergyMilwaukee County: not served by Xcel EnergyMonroe County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 6 other utilitiesOconto County: not served by Xcel EnergyOneida County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 2 other utilitiesOutagamie County: not served by Xcel EnergyOzaukee County: not served by Xcel EnergyPepin County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 4 other utilitiesPierce County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 4 other utilitiesPolk County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 4 other utilitiesPortage County: not served by Xcel EnergyPrice County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 2 other utilitiesRacine County: not served by Xcel EnergyRichland County: not served by Xcel EnergyRock County: not served by Xcel EnergyRusk County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 5 other utilitiesSt. Croix County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 6 other utilitiesSauk County: not served by Xcel EnergySawyer County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 5 other utilitiesShawano County: not served by Xcel EnergySheboygan County: not served by Xcel EnergyTaylor County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 6 other utilitiesTrempealeau County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 6 other utilitiesVernon County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 7 other utilitiesVilas County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 5 other utilitiesWalworth County: not served by Xcel EnergyWashburn County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 6 other utilitiesWashington County: not served by Xcel EnergyWaukesha County: not served by Xcel EnergyWaupaca County: not served by Xcel EnergyWaushara County: not served by Xcel EnergyWinnebago County: not served by Xcel EnergyWood County: not served by Xcel Energy

Source: EIA-861 2025, service territory; Census Bureau, Cartographic boundary file, counties. EIA-861 2025 service territory: 28 counties. Counts whole counties even where the utility serves only part of one; check the utility's own service-area map for an address.

Show the numbers
CountyOther utilities reporting service
Ashland CountyPrice Electric Cooperative, Bayfield Electric Cooperative, North Central Power Co
Barron CountyPolk-Burnett Electric Cooperative, Barron Electric Cooperative, Jump River Electric Cooperative, Dunn County Electric Cooperative, Chippewa Valley Electric Cooperative, Rice Lake Utilities, North Central Power Co, City of Barron, City of Cumberland
Bayfield CountyDahlberg Light & Power Co, Bayfield Electric Cooperative
Buffalo CountyRiverland Energy Cooperative, Eau Claire Electric Cooperative, Pierce-Pepin Cooperative Services
Chippewa CountyBarron Electric Cooperative, Eau Claire Electric Cooperative, Jump River Electric Cooperative, Clark Electric Cooperative, Dunn County Electric Cooperative, Chippewa Valley Electric Cooperative, Bloomer Electric & Water Co, City of Cornell, Village of Cadott
Clark CountyEau Claire Electric Cooperative, City of Marshfield, Clark Electric Cooperative, Jackson Electric Cooperative, Taylor Electric Cooperative
Crawford CountyAlliant Energy (WPL), Scenic Rivers Energy Cooperative, Vernon Electric Cooperative, Richland Electric Cooperative
Dunn CountyPolk-Burnett Electric Cooperative, Barron Electric Cooperative, Eau Claire Electric Cooperative, St Croix Electric Cooperative, Dunn County Electric Cooperative, Chippewa Valley Electric Cooperative
Eau Claire CountyRiverland Energy Cooperative, Eau Claire Electric Cooperative, Jackson Electric Cooperative
Iron CountyWisconsin Public Service, Price Electric Cooperative, Bayfield Electric Cooperative
Jackson CountyAlliant Energy (WPL), Riverland Energy Cooperative, Oakdale Electric Cooperative, Eau Claire Electric Cooperative, Clark Electric Cooperative, Jackson Electric Cooperative, City of Black River Falls, Village of Merrillan
La Crosse CountyRiverland Energy Cooperative, Vernon Electric Cooperative, Jackson Electric Cooperative, Village of Bangor
Lincoln CountyWisconsin Public Service, Price Electric Cooperative, Taylor Electric Cooperative
Marathon CountyAlliant Energy (WPL), Wisconsin Public Service, City of Marshfield, Clark Electric Cooperative, Central Wisconsin Electric Cooperative, Taylor Electric Cooperative, Village of Stratford
Monroe CountyAlliant Energy (WPL), Oakdale Electric Cooperative, Vernon Electric Cooperative, Jackson Electric Cooperative, Village of Bangor, Village of Cashton
Oneida CountyWisconsin Public Service, Price Electric Cooperative
Pepin CountyRiverland Energy Cooperative, Eau Claire Electric Cooperative, Dunn County Electric Cooperative, Pierce-Pepin Cooperative Services
Pierce CountySt Croix Electric Cooperative, Dunn County Electric Cooperative, Pierce-Pepin Cooperative Services, City of River Falls
Polk CountyPolk-Burnett Electric Cooperative, Barron Electric Cooperative, Northwestern Wisconsin Electric Co, St Croix Electric Cooperative
Price CountyJump River Electric Cooperative, Price Electric Cooperative
Rusk CountyBarron Electric Cooperative, Jump River Electric Cooperative, Price Electric Cooperative, Chippewa Valley Electric Cooperative, North Central Power Co
Sawyer CountyBarron Electric Cooperative, Jump River Electric Cooperative, Price Electric Cooperative, Bayfield Electric Cooperative, North Central Power Co
St. Croix CountyPolk-Burnett Electric Cooperative, St Croix Electric Cooperative, Dunn County Electric Cooperative, Pierce-Pepin Cooperative Services, City of River Falls, City of New Richmond
Taylor CountyJump River Electric Cooperative, Price Electric Cooperative, Clark Electric Cooperative, Chippewa Valley Electric Cooperative, Taylor Electric Cooperative, City of Medford
Trempealeau CountyRiverland Energy Cooperative, Eau Claire Electric Cooperative, Jackson Electric Cooperative, City of Arcadia, Village of Trempealeau, Whitehall Electric Utility
Vernon CountyAlliant Energy (WPL), Scenic Rivers Energy Cooperative, Vernon Electric Cooperative, Richland Electric Cooperative, City of Westby, La Farge Municipal Electric Co, Village of Viola
Vilas CountyWe Energies, Wisconsin Public Service, Price Electric Cooperative, Bayfield Electric Cooperative, City of Eagle River
Washburn CountyPolk-Burnett Electric Cooperative, Barron Electric Cooperative, Dahlberg Light & Power Co, East Central Energy, North Central Power Co, City of Spooner

Outages: most minutes came on major event days

The typical Xcel customer in Wisconsin was in the dark for 309 minutes in 2025 once every event is counted, more than the Wisconsin average of 230 minutes, with 1.15 interruptions on average. Take out major event days under the IEEE 1366 method and the total falls to 110 minutes; the statewide equivalent was 84 minutes. Most of the minutes came on days classed as major events. Among the other large utilities, Wisconsin Public Service reported 630 minutes including major events and MGE 49 minutes8.

Smart meters, time-of-use and rooftop solar

Nearly every Xcel home in Wisconsin has a meter that records when electricity is used: EIA counted 97.6% of residential meters as advanced meters in 2025. Enrollment in a time-of-use rate stayed small, 7,079 customers or 3.2%, though that share was above We Energies' 1.5% and Alliant's 1.2%9. The peak hours and prices are in Xcel's Wisconsin tariff, not in EIA's data; the time-of-use guide works through what shifting use does to a bill.

Rooftop solar is rarer at Xcel than at Alliant or MGE. EIA lists 789 residential systems on net metering (10.9 megawatts in all), or 3.5 per 1,000 customers; Alliant had 12.4 and MGE 18.09. How exported power is credited is covered in the net metering guide.

Business customers and help with bills

Businesses on Xcel's Wisconsin system paid less per kWh than homes in 2025: 11.56¢ per kWh for 42,199 commercial accounts, whose bills averaged $623.58 a month, and 8.21¢ per kWh for 117 industrial ones. Over all 265,062 accounts, homes included, the figure was 11.68¢ per kWh1.

For households behind on bills, Wisconsin's federal LIHEAP allocation for fiscal 2026 was $112.8 million10; the help paying guide lists the programs. The Wisconsin page covers the state's other utilities.

Xcel Energy Wisconsin questions

What does Xcel Energy charge per kWh in Wisconsin?

Homes paid 15.56¢ per kWh1 on average in 2025, and 16.86¢ per kWh2 across the last 12 months (September 2025 to August 2026; the 2026 months are preliminary). These averages fold the customer charge, fuel costs and riders into one figure per kWh. Xcel's tariff splits them out, so its energy charge on its own will not match.

What is the average Xcel Energy electric bill in Wisconsin?

In 2025 the typical Xcel home in Wisconsin used 726 kWh and was billed $112.861 a month. Over the last 12 months (September 2025 to August 2026) the figure was $123.34, from $90.73 in September 2025 to $172.50 in July 20262.

Is Northern States Power Wisconsin the same company as Xcel Energy?

Yes. Northern States Power Company (Wisconsin) is Xcel Energy's Wisconsin utility and the name EIA reports it under. It is separate from Northern States Power Company (Minnesota), which has its own rates and its own page.

Can I buy electricity from someone other than Xcel in Wisconsin?

No. Wisconsin has no residential retail choice: 0.0%1 of the state's residential customers bought from a competitive supplier in 2025. The utility whose wires reach an address also sells the electricity.

Related pages

Sources

  1. EIA-861 annual electric power industry report, 2025 final; table Sales_Ult_Cust_2025; 2025, final; released October 7, 2026. www.eia.gov
  2. EIA-861M monthly sales and revenue by utility; table sales_ult_cust_2025 and _2026; released October 23, 2026. www.eia.gov
  3. EIA, Electric Power Monthly / EIA-861M sales and revenue by state; table sales_revenue.xlsx (EPM Table 5.6.A); January 2001 to 2026-08; months since January 2026 preliminary; released October 23, 2026. www.eia.gov
  4. EIA-861 2025, average monthly bill by state; table Average_Bill_2025; 2025, final; released October 7, 2026. www.eia.gov
  5. EIA-861 annual electric power industry report, 2024 final; table Sales_Ult_Cust_2024; 2024, final (file updated December 3, 2025); released December 3, 2025. www.eia.gov
  6. EIA-861 2025, service territory; table Service_Territory_2025; 2025, final; released October 7, 2026. www.eia.gov
  7. Census Bureau, Cartographic boundary file, counties; table cb_2025_us_county_5m; cb_2021_us_county_5m; 2025 (2021 for Connecticut). www.census.gov
  8. EIA-861 2025, reliability; table Reliability_2025; 2025, final; released October 7, 2026. www.eia.gov
  9. EIA-861 2025, advanced meters, dynamic pricing and net metering; table Advanced_Meters, Dynamic_Pricing, Net_Metering 2025; 2025, final; released October 7, 2026. www.eia.gov
  10. HHS, LIHEAP funding releases to states; table FY2027 first release; FY2026 final; FY2027 first release (October 9, 2026); FY2026 total; released October 9, 2026. acf.gov
  11. EIA, Historical state data, annual sales, revenue and customers; table HS861 2010-.xlsx; 2010-2025, final; released October 7, 2026. www.eia.gov

How every figure is built: methodology. Found an error? Write to [email protected]; corrections are listed on the updates page.