A review of consumer bills shows large market price jumps in home natural gas costs. Energy assessments are an important first step to providing homeowners with relief through low-cost or free home insulation.
MILWAUKEE—If you felt your energy bills seemed higher, it turns out you were right. A review of natural gas prices on consumer bills conducted by Green Homeowners United found that Milwaukee residents have paid 58% more per therm of natural gas in March 2026 than March 2025.
This impact would mean a home in Milwaukee using 150 therms of natural gas would pay $74.62 more on their WE Energies bill this year than they would have in March 2025.
The cause of the higher rates is not unique for WE Energies customers. Xcel customers in La Crosse using the same 150 therms are paying $44.56 more than the same time last year, and a Madison Gas & Electric customer would pay $55.20 more that month. The cause is a spike in the market rate for natural gas, passed onto consumers by utilities. The gas supply charge seen by customers in March was the largest monthly supply price increase in over a year.
Explanations for this range from winter storms causing grid damage, to the war in Iran, to extra power demand from AI data centers.
Utility (major city) | Percent natural gas therm increase, March 2025 to March 2026 | Extra cost, if customer used 150 therms that month, vs 1 year previous |
| WE Energies (Milwaukee) | +58% | +$74.62 |
| Xcel Energy (La Crosse) | +30% | +$44.56 |
| Madison Gas & Electric (Madison) | +41% | +$55.20 |
Whatever the cause, the impact on consumers is clear: bills are higher now than they have been in some time. While policymakers debate action steps, the best option to protect homeowners now is a residential energy assessment that can share where heat is being lost in a home, and unlock State and Federal funds to pay for improvements.
With the support of the City of Milwaukee ECO office, and Wisconsin’s Focus on Energy program, Green Homeowners United is offering $0 home energy assessments to Milwaukee County & Waukesha County residents. These energy assessments can unlock up to $20,000 in incentives from Focus on Energy for energy saving home improvements like insulation and sealing air leaks.
In partnership with Forward Together Wisconsin, this work has also helped low-income homeowners in Wisconsin unlock more than one million dollars in energy efficiency rebates.
The home energy assessment program has thousands of additional slots remaining for homeowners or renters earning less than this chart below, with one of the most common projects being insulating bare uninsulated/unfinished basement walls.
Household Income limit for Milwaukee/ Waukesha Energy Assessment Program
| Household size | 1 person | 2 people | 3 people | 4 people | 5 people | 6 people |
| Income limit | $62,000 | $70,850 | $79,700 | $88,550 | $95,650 | $102,750 |
What is needed to sign up:
1) Prove income qualifications
- Gather (1) Recent Energy bill, and (2) Most recent tax return, or an enrollment letter in either: Foodshare, Energy Assistance, or Medicaid, AND
- Call Green Homeowners United at 414-604-6450
- Or sign up yourself online on Focus on Energy’s website to get an “EA-number”(List “Green Homeowners United” as your IRA trade ally for faster sign up)
2) Call Green Homeowners United at 414-604- 6450 to schedule a visit to your home to see how we can help you with the funds available. An energy assessment will need to be performed on your home to officially unlock the funds.
3) Review the results of the assessment together, plan a project, submit to the state for pre-approval, then look at possible dates to start the work!
“Our most immediate opportunity to save consumers money is in the home energy bills of everyday people,” said Kevin Kane, chief economist for Green Homeowners United. “Thousands of people in Wisconsin can benefit from state and federal home upgrade incentives totalling thousands of dollars, and the City of Milwaukee is leading the way by helping residents with a no-cost energy assessment that unlocks these funds. But hurry, while Wisconsin has millions of dollars for this program, it won’t last forever.”
Interview opportunities by phone or video (virtual or in person) available upon request. Video at a job site or recent job site may be possible too, with consent of the homeowner. Please call Kevin Kane at 414-550-8280 to inquire.
Green Homeowners United is a social enterprise founded in 2020 to help homeowners reduce carbon emissions at home. Through energy assessments, economic analysis, and residential construction expertise, we help homeowners do the right thing by the planet and their pocketbooks. Contact Green Homeowners United to find out how to reduce utility bills and carbon emissions.
Forward Together Wisconsin is a 501(c)(3) organization operating exclusively for charitable and educational purposes including, but not limited to, conducting research on federal investments in Wisconsin, educating the general public on accessing said investments, and assisting the general public with technical and financial needs to access the federal funds.
