The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin is an independent regulatory agency responsible for regulating public utilities in the energy, telecommunications, gas and water companies located in U.S. state of Wisconsin

Wisconsin

Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...

. As of 2010, the agency regulated more than 1,100 electric, natural gas, telephone, water, and water/sewer utilities.

The commission consists of three full-time commissioners that are appointed by the governor

Governor of Wisconsin

The Governor of Wisconsin is the highest executive authority in the government of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The position was first filled by Nelson Dewey on June 7, 1848, the year Wisconsin became a state...

 and confirmed by the Wisconsin State Senate

Wisconsin State Senate

The Wisconsin Senate, the powers of which are modeled after those of the U.S. Senate, is the upper house of the Wisconsin State Legislature, smaller than the Wisconsin State Assembly...

 in staggered six-year terms. The commissioners are assisted by a staff of auditors, accountants, engineers, rate analysts, attorneys, planners, research analysts, economists, consumer specialists, and other support personnel. The staff is divided into several divisions: Gas and Energy Division, Telecommunications Division, Division of Water, Compliance, and Consumer Affairs, Division of Administrative Services, and the Office of General Counsel.

Wisconsin's 28 electric cooperatives are not subject to the Public Service Commission.