WPS gets part of requested rate increase News-Chronicle The state Public Service Commission on Thursday granted Wisconsin Public Service lower electric and natural gas rate increases than the utility had requested. The commission allowed an approximate 9.5 percent increase for electrical operations and about a 2.3 percent increase for gas operations. The amount of the increase will vary depending on the type of customer. WPS had applied in April for a 14.7 percent increase for electricity and 4.5 percent increase for natural gas for 2004, citing payroll increases, higher medical costs, the purchase of the De Pere Energy Center, a predicted $10 million sales loss and the installation of automated meter reading equipment.