Utility companies across Wisconsin have been ordered to refund millions of dollars to their customers for overestimating costs last year.

Utilities must estimate the cost of providing electricity to customers for permission to raise annual utility rates, Xcel Energy spokeswoman
Chris Oulette said. Last year, those costs were $9.5 million lower than predicted and the state Public Service Commission ordered the money be paid back to customers.

"We agreed with the amount for the over-collection, but we had reached an agreement with several customer stakeholder groups to use the refund amount to offset our proposed 2017 electric rate increase," Oulette said.

However, the PSC declined and ordered refunds be made as soon as possible. WE Energies and Madison Gas and Electric face similar situations. They each expect to refund around $16 million to their customers.