Background

Without a law change, transmission projects will be put up to competitive bid under a new federal regulatory program that would allow out-of-state investors to build, own and control parts of Wisconsin’s transmission system. This would render the grid less reliable, less efficient and more costly to consumers.

This Bill is Likely to Boost the Value of Your Investment in Wisconsin Utilities.

Our regional power grid operator, The Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), has called for a significant expansion of the transmission network in the upper Midwest to improve reliability and support economic growth. Part of that expansion includes $1.8 billion in transmission projects in Wisconsin. This bill will ensure that those projects are built, owned, and operated by Wisconsin utilities rather than by out-of-state investors. That means a likely increase in the value of your Wisconsin utility stocks.

This Bill Will Reduce the Costs of Building New Transmission Lines for Consumers.

MISO allows ATC, the primary transmission line owner/operator owned by Wisconsin utilities, to assign millions of dollars of costs outside of Wisconsin when building these projects. New, out-of-state transmission developers can’t assign costs outside of Wisconsin. So, without this bill, Wisconsin residents will pay more – up to $1 billion more over the life of the lines.

Failure to Pass This Bill Would Harm Utility Investors.

Currently, the transmission grid is primarily owned by the American Transmission Company (ATC), which, in turn, is owned by Alliant Energy, Madison Gas and Electric, and WEC Energy Group, along with some municipal utilities. The transmission grid forms part of the asset base upon which income is derived for these Wisconsin utilities, which pay dividends to shareholders. To the extent that out-of-state developers move in and take over the construction of new transmission projects, Wisconsin utilities and their shareholders will be financially affected.

Next Steps: Take Action to Protect your Dividends!

Contact your State Senator and Representative right away and urge them to support Senate Bill 28 and Assembly Bill 28.

2025-2026 List of Senators Contact Information

Below are the talking points to send them an email message or write them a letter addressed to:

Senator________, P.O. Box 7882, Madison WI 53707

Representative_________, P.O. Box 8952, Madison WI 53708

If you're unsure who your State Senator or Representative are, click here to find their information.

Talking Points: In your correspondence include following points for support of Senate Bill 28 and Assembly Bill 25.

• I am a shareholder of Wisconsin utility stock and (if retired) I rely on the dividends I receive to supplement Social Security and other retirement benefits.
• Please vote for Senate Bill 28 and Assembly Bill 25 that will allow Wisconsin Utilities to continue to build, own and operate the transmission grid in Wisconsin.
• Without this bill various out-of-state developers will wind up owning and operating parts of our transmission grid, which will make the system less reliable, less efficient and more costly to consumers.
• Experience from other states has shown that out-of-state developer’s transmission projects nearly always experience significant cost overruns, and the federal regulatory process leads to lengthy delays in needed transmission line expansions.
• This bill will keep the financial benefits of transmission line investment in the hands of Wisconsin companies and their shareholders.