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Frequently Asked Questions - NatureWise® Renewable Energy Program
Following are the answers to some questions that are asked quite often.
If they don't hit on what you need to know, or if you'd like further information,
contact us.
- What is the NatureWise program?
- NatureWise offers you a choice about how your electricity is produced! It's
a smart new choice for clean energy. This voluntary program allows you to bring
more clean, renewable energy to our community. These new renewable resources
will replace some of the electricity generated from other fuels, including coal
and natural gas. NatureWise is an easy way to make a difference for the
environment.
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- Why did Wisconsin Public Service create the NatureWise program?
- Our customers have told us that they want to protect the environment and use
more renewable energy. Wisconsin Public Service shares these concerns, so we
developed NatureWise. NatureWise offers you a choice about how your electricity
is produced. Every household that joins the NatureWise program helps reduce the
reliance on limited resources like coal and natural gas while improving the
environment for future generations.
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- What renewable energy sources provide the energy for
Public Service's NatureWise program?
- NatureWise is a blend of energy from wind and biogas. The wind energy comes
from Public Service's two wind turbines in Glenmore, south of Green Bay and from
the Forward Wind Energy Center which is located in northern Dodge County. The
biogas energy comes from two sources: dairy farm waste (from Wholesome Dairy in
Hilbert, WI) and from a landfill in Whitelaw, WI.
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- Will other renewable energy sources be added to
NatureWise program?
- As demand increases for renewable energy, Public Service will add more
renewable electricity to the NatureWise mix of resources.
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- What are the environmental benefits of NatureWise?
- NatureWise energy uses wind and biogas to produce cleaner electricity. Wind
power does not pollute the air or water, does not create any waste products, and
does not produce any greenhouse gases. Biogas energy converts waste from farms
and landfills to produce valuable green electricity. This benefits the environment
because using the methane from waste products as a fuel is better than releasing
the methane into the air or burning it off. In addition, NatureWise saves
resources for the future. Over a year, each block (100 kilowatt hour per month)
of NatureWise energy that you purchase saves about 1,000 pounds of coal.
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- Will my electricity still be just as reliable?
- The reliability of your electricity service is not affected by your
NatureWise purchase. Even if the wind is not blowing, you will have reliable
electricity because you are connected to the regional electricity grid.
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- How much will it cost me to sign up for NatureWise?
- NatureWise offers "blocks" of renewable electricity. Each block is 100
kilowatt-hours*, and you will pay an extra charge of $1.00 per block on your
monthly bill. For a few dollars a month, you can begin supporting renewable
energy from Wisconsin facilities.
| Number of Blocks |
Extra Monthly Payment |
| 1 |
$1.00 |
| 2 |
$2.00 |
| 3 |
$3.00 |
| 4 |
$4.00 |
| 5 |
$5.00 |
| 6 |
$6.00 |
*100 kWh represents 15-20% of a typical Public Service residential customer's
monthly electric use.
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- How much NatureWise energy can I purchase?
- You have the power to choose the amount of NatureWise energy you want. You
can choose any number of "blocks" of NatureWise energy. Each block is 100
kilowatt-hours, and that represents 15 - 20% of an average monthly residential
electric bill.
On the sign-up form, you can check from one to six blocks, and there is a blank
on the form if you want to purchase more than six blocks. You must purchase
NatureWise in whole blocks.
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- Why does renewable energy cost more?
- Renewable energy facilities are currently more costly to build and operate.
Wind and biogas — the "fuels" for these facilities — are free, but the equipment
and maintenance cost more per unit of electricity than conventional power plants.
The cost of renewable energy is decreasing. Wind energy, for example, has fallen
dramatically in recent years, from about 38 cents per kilowatt-hour in the early
1980's to about 7 cents per kilowatt-hour today. That's still more expensive
than the electricity from conventional energy sources. The cost of wind and
other renewable energy will likely decrease over time as developers build more
projects to meet rising demand.
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- Where does my money go?
- Your NatureWise payments are used to purchase the more expensive renewable
energy and to cover the administrative costs of providing the program.
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- Are my NatureWise payments tax-deductible?
- No, the extra charges are not considered a donation. They are charges for
a "premium" grade of electricity.
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- Does Wisconsin Public Service make any money from the NatureWise program?
- The NatureWise price is set to recover the costs of purchasing the more
expensive renewable energy and administering the program. The Public Service
Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) sets the final price for NatureWise.
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- Why don't all customers help pay for the added costs of renewable energy?
- Not all customers have the same interests and needs. Some are concerned
about the environmental impacts of electricity generation and are willing and
able to pay more for cleaner electricity. Others are interested only in paying
the lowest possible price for electricity. NatureWise gives you the choice.
People who prefer renewable energy can purchase NatureWise voluntarily in the
amount they choose. Customers who choose not to purchase NatureWise do not pay
any of the extra costs.
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- Is Public Service required to produce a certain amount
of electricity from renewable energy sources? (renewable portfolio standards)
- Yes. Wisconsin Public Service is meeting the renewable requirements using
other energy. All the energy that you purchase through the NatureWise program
is above and beyond the amount required by regulations. When you sign up for
NatureWise renewable energy, you are making a real difference!
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- When I purchase NatureWise, does the renewable energy
come to my home, farm or business?
- NatureWise energy is delivered to the electrical grid in our communities.
The renewable resources become part of the supply mixture that Public Service
uses to produce electricity. Thus your purchase brings more renewable energy
to our local area.
By buying NatureWise energy, you are saying, "I want my share to be renewable."
Public Service is required to match your payments with electricity produced
from renewable energy. This is monitored by the Public Service Commission of
Wisconsin.
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- Can I sign up for NatureWise and other Public Service
programs, including SolarWise® for Schools?
- Yes. NatureWise can be added along with any other programs that we offer.
Through SolarWise® for Schools you can help bring solar energy systems and
educational materials to local high schools.
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- I signed up for several blocks of NatureWise energy,
and that's more electricity than I used in the month.
- Your NatureWise purchase is a fixed amount of energy, regardless of the
amount of electricity that you use. If you purchase several blocks of
NatureWise energy, the total NatureWise amount may exceed the amount you use
during months when your electrical use is lower.
Example:
- Electrical use: 525 kWh
- NatureWise purchase: 6 blocks of 100 kWh = 600 kWh
This customer will be billed for 600 kWh of NatureWise even though he/she only
used 525 kWh.
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- How do I cancel my NatureWise purchase?
-
Contact us with a detailed request.
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