We Energies Rate Filing Focuses on Reliability, Protecting Customers and Supporting Wisconsins Economy
For immediate release
Key points at a glance
- $225 million in savings from federal tax credits and earnings sharing.
- $1.9 billion in costs paid by data centers, protecting other customers under the company’s Customer Protection Plan.
- New grid investments to strengthen reliability and support energy projects across Wisconsin.
MILWAUKEE — We Energies today filed a rate request with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) that continues the company’s long-term plan to provide customers safe and reliable energy.
The request includes more than $225 million in savings from federal tax credits and earnings sharing. Nearly $1.9 billion in costs paid by data centers. And significant investments in Wisconsin’s energy grid to provide customers safe and reliable energy.
“Our customers count on us every day for the energy they need, and we recognize our responsibility to continue providing safe and reliable energy,” said Mike Hooper, president — We Energies. “This filing shows our continued commitment to keep costs down, invest in reliability and make sure data centers pay their fair share.”
Strengthening Wisconsin’s energy grid
The filing supports ongoing investments to maintain safe and reliable energy service throughout the state, including:
Customer Protection Plan: Data center costs will not be passed on to other customers. Data centers will pay nearly $1.9 billion in 2027 and 2028 toward the infrastructure, equipment and energy needed to serve them.
Clean energy expansion: Recovering costs for new solar, wind, battery storage and natural gas projects already approved by regulators and expected to begin serving customers in 2027 and 2028.
Reliability investments: Funding for continued work to trim trees, bury power lines and replace aging equipment. These investments are already making a significant difference: forestry-related power interruptions have dropped 25% and outage durations are down 75% compared to the prior three-year average.
Improved performance: We Energies plans to install 60 to 80 miles of underground cable in both 2027 and 2028, as well as add new equipment to power lines to improve reliability. These investments benefit every customer by reducing outages, speeding restoration and minimizing emergency repairs.
Economic impact: Company investments continue to support Wisconsin’s economy, creating construction and operations jobs across the state.
Bills will remain below national average
The typical residential electric bill is projected to increase about $13 per month in 2027 and $8 to $9 per month in 2028.
Even with these changes, typical We Energies customer bills remain below the national average and in line with other Wisconsin and Midwest utilities.
We Energies residential natural gas customers would see a $1 to $8 increase in their monthly bills in 2027 as part of the filed plan.
Bills for We Energies steam customers in downtown Milwaukee would see a 0.2% increase in 2027 as part of the filed plan.
Customer assistance options
Many people are facing challenging times, and no one wants to see rising energy bills. Last week, the company filed a plan to return more than $31 million to customers in fuel cost savings this year.
We Energies is taking additional steps to keep bills low while also preparing for the demands of today and tomorrow. The company is prioritizing efficiency in everything they do. They are protecting customers by making sure data centers pay their fair share. They provide customer assistance programs for those in need.
Customers who need help managing their energy bills are encouraged to contact We Energies. The company offers budget billing for predictable monthly payments and energy assistance programs that help lower-income households manage costs.
Next steps
This filing is the first step in a transparent, months-long process that includes public filings, customer group and expert regulatory staff review, and public hearings.
All documents and filings that are part of this rate review are available at psc.wi.gov, search for docket number 5-UR-112.
The commission is expected to make a final decision later this year. New rates are expected to take effect in January 2027.
About We Energies
We Energies serves more than 1.2 million electric customers and 1.1 million natural gas customers in Wisconsin. We Energies is the trade name of Wisconsin Electric Power Co. and Wisconsin Gas LLC, subsidiaries of WEC Energy Group Inc. (NYSE: WEC). Learn more about We Energies at we-energies.com and WEC Energy Group at wecenergygroup.com.
Forward-looking statements
Certain statements contained in this press release are “forward looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements are based upon management’s current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in the statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements. Forward looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning management’s expectations and projections regarding rate case filings, including proposals for spending and investment and recovery requests; regulatory actions and decisions; and impact on customers. The following factors, in addition to those discussed in each of WEC Energy Group, Inc.’s, and Wisconsin Electric Power Company’s Annual Report on Form 10K for the year ended December 31, 2025 and in subsequent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in any forward looking statements: the possibility that the PSCW’s order will differ from the terms of the proposals; the timing, resolution and impact of rate cases and other regulatory decisions; general economic conditions, including business and competitive conditions in WEC Energy Group, Inc.’s service territories; WEC Energy Group Inc.’s ability to continue to successfully integrate the operations of its subsidiaries; availability of generating facilities and/or distribution systems; unanticipated changes in fuel and purchased power costs; key personnel changes; unusual, varying or severe weather conditions; continued industry restructuring and consolidation; continued advances in, and adoption of, new technologies that produce power or reduce power consumption; energy and environmental conservation efforts; electrification initiatives, mandates and other efforts to reduce the use of natural gas; WEC Energy Group Inc.’s ability to successfully acquire and/or dispose of assets and projects and to execute on its capital plan, including projects related to serving data centers and other large-scale customers; terrorist, physical or cybersecurity threats or attacks and data security breaches; construction risks; labor disruptions; equity and bond market fluctuations; changes in WEC Energy Group, Inc.’s and its subsidiaries’ ability to access the capital markets; changes in tax legislation or WEC Energy Group, Inc.’s and its subsidiaries’ ability to use certain tax benefits and carryforwards; changes in and uncertainty around federal, state, and local legislation and regulation, including changes in rate setting policies or procedures and environmental standards, in the enforcement of these laws and regulations or permit conditions and changes in the interpretation of regulations by regulatory agencies; supply chain disruptions; inflation; political or geopolitical developments impacting the global economy, supply chain and fuel prices, generally, including as a result of changes to government trade policies, geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and other countries, or other new, protracted or escalating regional conflicts; the impact from any health crises, including epidemics and pandemics; current and future litigation and regulatory investigations, proceedings or inquiries; the ability of the Company to successfully and/or timely adopt new technologies, including artificial intelligence; changes in accounting standards and the ability of WEC Energy Group, Inc. or its subsidiaries to obtain additional generating capacity at competitive prices. Except as may be required by law, WEC Energy Group, Inc., and Wisconsin Electric Power Company expressly disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward looking information.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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