The Public Service Commission ruled against a Point Edwards chemical plant that wanted to lock in its electric rates.
ERCO Worldwide hoped for a special rate so it could afford to install mercury pollution controls. According to a PSC statement the plant does account for a quarter of the state's mercury emissions.
Charlie Higley of the Citizens Utility Board, who petitioned the PSC to reject the deal, says it was illegal and would have set a bad precedent
His group also got involved because it may have meant higher rates for other WP&L customers. Consumers, he says, won't be paying for a private company's construction.
ERCO Manager Steve Hieger is quoted as saying they're not giving up on cutting emissions it just may not be 100% as planned. The PSC did approve a rate hike for WP&L anyway. It just wasn't as high.