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Nov 07, 2009 (The Leader-Telegram - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Xcel Energy officials say that several factors, including lower generation costs and a potential refund of fuel and purchased power expenses, will significantly reduce the company's requested increase in electric rates proposed earlier in the year.

In June, Xcel Energy filed a request with the Public Service Commission for a $30.4 million, or 5.7 percent, increase in rates for electric service and no increase in rates for natural gas service, with new rates becoming effective Jan. 1.

The PSC is holding joint public hearings at 9:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Wednesday, in Eau Claire, La Crosse and Madison. A schedule of meeting locations and directions can be found at http://psc.wi.gov/.

The Internal Revenue Service is looking for 971 Wisconsin taxpayers who have refund checks waiting for them totaling $858,206 that were returned as undeliverable.

The refund checks, averaging $886, can be sent as soon as taxpayers update their addresses with the IRS.

In Eau Claire County, 22 people have refunds totaling $37,446, or an average of $1,702 per person.

Residents of other west-central Wisconsin counties also have money waiting for them: Barron, three; Buffalo, one; Chippewa, five; Clark, five; Dunn, two; Jackson, six; Pepin, two; Pierce, two; Rusk, one; St. Croix, eight; and Trempealeau, two.

There are several ways for taxpayers to update their addresses and claim their refunds. The "Where's My Refund?" tool at www.irs.gov enables taxpayers to check the status of their refunds. The tool will provide the status of the refund and, in some cases, provide instructions on how to resolve delivery problems. Taxpayers also can access a telephone version of "Where's My Refund?" by calling 800-829-1954. Taxpayers using these tools will need their Social Security number, filing status and amount of their 2008 refund.

The Eau Claire City-County Health Department is warning the public in the Seymour Road area of a very ill, injured cat with no collar or tags.

The cat is solid black, limping on its right rear leg, salivating heavily and unable to eat, which may be symptoms of rabies. Raccoons and fox, which can carry the rabies virus, have been seen multiple times in this area of the city.

The health department is advising the public to stay away from wild animals and if they observe the cat and/or any other visibly sick animals to call 839-4972.

Zander, a 3-year-old brindle boxer belonging to the Tim and Margie Kleinschmidt family, has been returned to his Eau Claire home.

The dog -- spooked by a noise -- ran from a town of Seymour home Aug. 30. Initial efforts to find him were unsuccessful. The family held a memorial service Sept. 27, but on Oct. 12, they got a call after a girl was able to sneak up on the sleeping dog and grab his collar. The crafty canine got away and thwarted multiple attempts to catch him in the Princeton Valley area -- until Wednesday.

The Kleinschmidts got a call that day that Zander, who was featured in an Oct. 29 column in the Leader-Telegram, had been caught by a resident living in the 3600 block of La Salle Street, Margie Kleinschmidt said.

"It's so cool to have him home," she said Friday, adding her three children were especially happy to have their beloved pet back. "I think he's done running, but in the future, we'll be much, much more careful."

Through a Halloween candy buy-back program, dentists Lisa Henson and Joe Theisen recently bought 213 pounds of candy from trick-or-treaters and others hoping to help two good causes.

Henson and Theisen of Regis Court Dental Associates -- who paid $1 per pound for the treats -- plan to ship the candy out early next week to a California-based nonprofit that sends care packages to U.S. troops serving overseas.

They also planned to donate $250 to Eau Claire United PTA/PTO, which is raising money for field trips once funded by the Eau Claire school district. That donation will be matched by Charter Bank, which has pledged to match up to $20,000 for the trips.

From staff reports

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