MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - A utility that serves western and northwest Wisconsin wants to raise its electric rates by an average of 5.4 percent next year.

XCel Energy says it needs the extra revenue because of higher fuel costs, and investments in clean energy and transmission equipment. It’s asking the state Public Service Commission for a $29 million revenue hike. Residential customers would pay 4.4 percent more.

Some industrial users would face an 8 percent increase or more – and that does not sit well with Todd Stuart of the Wisconsin Industrial Energy Group. He says the group will urge the PSC to reduce the size of the rate hike, and re-allocate the costs among the various users.

But if the original request is approved, XCel says it would still have the lowest residential and commercial electric rates among Wisconsin’s major utilities – as well as the second-lowest industrial rates.