Proposed Takeover of We Energies Will Get City Hall Hearing

Alex Brower and electrical infrastructure. Brower photo from campaign, electrical image in public domain.

Alderman Alex Brower‘s proposal to replace We Energies with a publicly owned utility is about to take a major step at Milwaukee City Hall.

The concept will have its first public hearing on June 24.

“Necessities like electricity and natural gas should be provided for the collective benefit of all, not for the profit of shareholders,” wrote Brower in a letter to his colleagues. “While the process is long and may be difficult, our city will be better served by a utility that, like the Milwaukee Water Works, we own.”

The meeting will discuss the legal framework under which such a proposal could be implemented. The American Public Power Association is expected to participate.

The discussion will be held before the Public Transportation, Utilities and Waterways Review Board, a seldom-used entity chaired by Ald. Robert Bauman.

Brower, in his 2025 campaign, made the creation of a public electric utility his top campaign issue. He has long participated in the Power to the People campaign, which has advocated for a public takeover for several years.

He spoke at length about the plan in a March 2025 interview with Urban Milwaukee.

“As a Common Council, we can collectively begin the steps necessary to replace We Energies, as outlined in Chapter 197,” wrote Brower in his letter, outlining the key state statute.

Brower said the time was right given the company’s repeated raising of its rates in the last four years. “We Energies has failed the residents of Milwaukee and it’s time that we look to other operations,” he wrote.

We Energies defended its record in advance of the meeting.

“Energy bills for customers in Milwaukee remain below the national average. As part of a larger network, We Energies can draw on experienced crews, modern equipment and a depth of technical expertise to restore power quickly and maintain reliable service. This has resulted in customer savings and reliability that has been recognized by independent experts across the country,” said a spokesperson. “In addition, We Energies is aggressively supporting the climate goals of the city. In fact, We Energies is partnering with the city on numerous solar projects that create local jobs and power the local grid with clean energy. These benefits would be virtually impossible to replicate through municipalization.”

The meeting, open to the public, will be held in Room 301-B at City Hall at 9 a.m.