The Village of Merrillan operates its own public electric utility. There are many like this throughout Wisconsin, but we are a member of the UMMEG joint action agency. This includes municipalities like ours, Arcadia, Cashton, New Lisbon, and many others. This group runs and operates many of their own power generation facilities, such as hydro, diesel, solar, natural gas, and so forth. We negotiate pricing within our own group along with wholesale providers like Dairyland Power. This keeps rates low for citizens. Our main feeder line to the Village is owned and maintained by Jackson Electric, who we pay for transmission capacity.
Merrillan is currently at 7.4 cents per kwh, the average in Wisconsin is 17c, nationwide 18c. Our meter charge is $7.50, whereas many other providers have meter charges that are considerably higher. Please see the rate file below for full details on our charges.
The Village also owns and operates its own hydro-electric dam on Lower Lake, generating on average of 30 kW and up to about 70 kW. When the water levels are low the generation capability will be adjusted accordingly to avoid draining the lake. Some additional details here: https://hydroreform.org/hydro-project/merrillan/
The Village also owns and operates a diesel generator that can be operated during high capacity or peak events. This along with many other municipal utilities with similar capabilities, allows strain on the grid during high usage times to be mitigated, therefore preventing blackouts.
Our main feed into the Village is on transmission lines owned by Jackson Electric, therefore if there is an outage affecting these power lines it can affect the Village.
We have been and will continue to explore additional options, such as updates to our infrastructure, adding generating capabilities (solar + battery, hydro, wind), and other areas to help create a more reliable electric grid for Village residents.
Merrillan is currently at 7.4 cents per kwh, the average in Wisconsin is 17c, nationwide 18c. Our meter charge is $7.50, whereas many other providers have meter charges that are considerably higher. Please see the rate file below for full details on our charges.
Resources/Additional Information
The Village of Merrillan purchases power from projects that are renewable energy, such as wind and solar. The difference in capacity that is not met with these projects is then purchased from Dairyland Power Cooperative. This allows the Village of keep rates stable and lower for residents.The Village also owns and operates its own hydro-electric dam on Lower Lake, generating on average of 30 kW and up to about 70 kW. When the water levels are low the generation capability will be adjusted accordingly to avoid draining the lake. Some additional details here: https://hydroreform.org/hydro-project/merrillan/
The Village also owns and operates a diesel generator that can be operated during high capacity or peak events. This along with many other municipal utilities with similar capabilities, allows strain on the grid during high usage times to be mitigated, therefore preventing blackouts.
Our main feed into the Village is on transmission lines owned by Jackson Electric, therefore if there is an outage affecting these power lines it can affect the Village.
We have been and will continue to explore additional options, such as updates to our infrastructure, adding generating capabilities (solar + battery, hydro, wind), and other areas to help create a more reliable electric grid for Village residents.
For Interconnection Information, Click Here
(ex. Customer-Owned Generation such as Solar)
For more information regarding the Electric Utilities please contact:
Shop
106 N East St
P.O. Box 70
Merrillan, WI 54754
715-333-7702
shop@merrillanwi.gov
Utilities Clerk
101 S Main St
P.O. Box 70
Merrillan, WI 54754
715-333-2332 Ext.22
utilities@merrillanwi.gov
