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The Wisconsin Public Service Commission has reviewed We Energies’ Very Large Customer (VLC) and Bespoke Resources Tariff application and issued a decision that modifies provisions relating to the energy-related costs data centers pay.

The Commission does not regulate the permitting, construction, or operations of data center facilities. In March 2025, We Energies submitted an application proposing the new tariffs in response to large data center customers entering the utility’s service territory. The PSC conducted a year-long review of the tariff application, which included analysis by PSC staff and intervening parties and a public engagement process. In its decision, the Commission made modifications to the tariff. Following is a non-exhaustive list of actions taken by the PSC:

• The Commission extended the VLC tariff minimum initial term length to 15 years. • The Commission lowered the energy demand threshold for tariff eligibility from 500 MW to 100 MW. This change expands tariff applicability to smaller data centers. • The Commission required tariff revisions relating to transmission costs. • The Commission removed a capacity-only option that would have allowed data centers to pay 75 percent of the costs of generating facilities. The removal of this capacity-only option and the approval of the Full-Benefits resource model will require data centers to pay 100 percent of their costs. • The Commission established additional reporting requirements to evaluate how the tariffs work in practice and created a mechanism for the Commission to make future adjustments if needed. 

Xcel Energy is beginning to send more than $130 million in additional savings to its Upper Midwest customers from federal tax credits on the energy generated by the company’s nuclear fleet. This brings the total savings to more than $330 million over the first two years of the credits.

“Our Monticello and Prairie Island nuclear plants are critical to our region’s energy security. Together, they deliver more than one-quarter of the electricity that our Upper Midwest customers use to power their homes and businesses,” according to Bria Shea, President of Xcel Energy—Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. “We advocated for these tax credits on nuclear energy generation in federal law. They represent yet another way our carbon-free, always-available nuclear fleet delivers for our customers and states.”

The average refund, based on average residential usage in each state, will be:

• $2.46 per month in Minnesota over a nine-month period starting April 1. The total refund in Minnesota is $83.1 million.
• $2.05 per month in North Dakota over a 12-month period starting April 1. The total refund in North Dakota is $5.8 million.
• $2.26 per month in South Dakota over a 10-month period likely to start May 1. The total refund in South Dakota is $6 million.

In Wisconsin and Michigan, the company included the credits in setting rates that started January. 1, 2026. In Wisconsin, that will result in a decrease of $37.5 million and in Michigan a decrease of $300,000.

“We’re committed to supporting economic growth, investing in our communities, delivering reliable and resilient electricity, and keeping customers’ bills low,” according to Karl Hoesly, President of Xcel Energy—Wisconsin and Michigan. “Our nuclear plants help us deliver on all of those commitments with round-the-clock power.”

The federal tax credit for nuclear energy generation was created under a 2022 federal law and continued under a 2025 law. Nuclear energy enjoys broad support among policymakers and the public because it’s the only energy source available that is both carbon free and available 24/7.

Xcel Energy’s two nuclear power plants, Monticello and Prairie Island, together accounted for 27% of the electricity used by customers across the company’s five-state Upper Midwest system in 2025. Xcel Energy has received federal approval to extend the operating life of its Monticello nuclear plant well into the future, and the company plans to seek a similar extension for its Prairie Island plant.

The Board of Directors of WEC Energy Group has declared a quarterly cash dividend of 95.25 cents per share on the company's common stock.

The dividend is payable June 1, 2026, to stockholders of record on May 14, 2026. This marks the 335^th consecutive quarter — dating back to 1942 — that the company will have paid a dividend to its stockholders.

A coalition of electric utilities, including two major players in Wisconsin’s power supply, is seeking federal intervention to pause competitive bidding for transmission projects needed to meet the vast energy needs of the data center boom.

The coalition has filed a complaint with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) asking the agency to exempt at least some major grid upgrades from bidding, arguing “bureaucratic red tape” can tack months onto project timelines and strain the country’s ability to “achieve dominance” in artificial intelligence. 

“This complaint is about whether our country will seize, or squander, a generational chance to own the next century,” the utilities wrote.

Among the companies seeking the exemption are Xcel Energy, owner of Northern States Power Company-Wisconsin, and American Transmission Company (ATC), which owns and operates transmission lines across much of Wisconsin.

We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service, both owned by WEC Energy Group, filed requests with the state Public Service Commission for rate hikes in 2027 and 2028.

The rate increase will help cover the cost of bringing new solar, wind, battery storage and natural gas projects online, as well as fund investments in tree trimming, burying power lines and replacing aging equipment.

“No one wants to see rising energy bills,” said Brendan Conway, a spokesperson for We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service. “Our filing reflects the realities that our customers count on us every day for the energy they need. We recognize it’s our responsibility to continue providing safe and reliable energy while keeping customer bills low for winter heating costs,” he said. “The combined effect of that is taking a toll on people.”

We Energies is asking regulators for a 4.7 percent increase to its base electric rates in 2027 and another 4.5 percent increase in 2028. That translates into a typical residential customer seeing a $13 increase in their monthly electric bill next year and an $8 to $9 increase the following year. 

Meanwhile, Wisconsin Public Service is seeking a base electric rate increase of 6.3 percent in 2027 and another 3.5 percent increase in 2028. That comes out to an $11 increase in a typical monthly electric bill next year and a $5 to $5.50 increase the following year.

We Energies is delaying the retirement of two aging coal units at its Oak Creek Power Plant. Units 7 and 8 at the plant, which went into service in the 1960s, had been scheduled to retire at the end of this year. They will now remain open through the end of 2027. The delay comes as energy usage is expected to increase due to data center projects currently under construction.

In a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, We Energies’ parent company said the decision to postpone the retirement of units 7 and 8 is based on providing “reliability and affordability for We Energies customers.”

“This past winter the Midwest power market experienced tightened energy supply and higher energy costs during the extreme temperatures,” the filing states. “Keeping units 7 and 8 available will better position We Energies to serve customers with safe, reliable and affordable energy.”

Brendan Conway, spokesperson for We Energies, said there have been many examples in recent years, including in January when temperatures “plunged well below zero,” when having power available was “critical to keeping customers safe.” 

The company’s SEC filing also says the extension of those units will “serve as a bridge” until new dispatchable energy generation resources come online in late 2027.

Last year, the Public Service Commission gave We Energies the OK to build new natural gas plants in Milwaukee County’s Oak Creek and the town of Paris in Kenosha County. According to the PSC, the Oak Creek gas project is expected to be completed by the winter of 2027 or the summer of 2028. 

The Bent Tree North Wind project in Freeborn County, Minnesota is moving forward, according to Alliant Energy. The energy company recently received unanimous approvals to construct a 150-megawatt (MW) wind project that will be built adjacent to the company’s existing 200-megawatt (MW) Bent Tree wind farm.  

The approvals, from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission and the Wisconsin Public Service Commission follow a comprehensive review of the project’s benefits. 

“Unanimous approvals in Wisconsin and Minnesota reflect strong regulatory confidence in this project and the value it brings to communities as a whole,” according to Becky Valcq, President of Alliant Energy’s Wisconsin Energy Company. “Approval of the Bent Tree North Wind project marks an important step as Alliant Energy continues to build a balanced energy portfolio that includes both renewable and traditional resources to meet customer demand.” 

Throughout the regulatory approval process, the Bent Tree North proposal earned strong backing from the Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce, Albert Lea Economic Development Agency, Laborers’ International Union of North America of Minnesota and Wisconsin, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 49, North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters, Minnesota Land & Liberty Coalition and RENEW Wisconsin. Leaders of these groups characterized Alliant Energy’s project as a model of stakeholder collaboration and emphasized its potential to drive new economic growth across the region and while ensuring a more reliable, resilient energy grid. 

“The Bent Tree North Wind Project represents continued, meaningful investment in Freeborn County—creating jobs, supporting our tax base, and delivering long-term value to local landowners. Just as importantly, it signals our community’s willingness to lead when it comes to emerging technologies and renewable energy. Communities that embrace innovation in these areas position themselves for long-term growth, and Freeborn County is demonstrating that leadership,” according to Valerie Lockhart, Executive Director, Albert Lea–Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce. 

The project is projected to generate more than $100 million in combined economic benefits, including local tax revenue, payments to more than 170 landowner partners, construction wages, and other community investments. The project is expected to generate enough renewable energy to power approximately 50,000 homes each year. 

“Bent Tree North is part of Alliant Energy’s broader Energy Blueprint roadmap for building a strong and balanced energy future that integrates new, renewable and traditional energy generation resources to provide cost-effective, reliable energy to customers,” according to the company.

More than 100 employees and retirees from Xcel Energy gathered at the Wisconsin State Capitol for the company’s annual Legislative Day, meeting with state leaders to discuss key energy priorities.

Participants emphasized the importance of strong collaboration between utilities and policymakers as energy demand continues to grow. Discussions focused on strengthening the grid, expanding infrastructure, and advancing new technologies to ensure reliable service.

Xcel Energy serves approximately 260,000 electric and 116,000 natural gas customers in Wisconsin, and company officials said continued engagement like this is key to meeting the state’s future energy needs.

The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin has unanimously approved the purchase of the Good Oak Solar Generation Facility and the Gristmill Solar Generation Facility; both will be built in Columbia County.

The two projects will add 165 megawatts (MW) of solar energy to the power grid — enough to power about 50,000 homes.

“Today’s commission approval will add more renewable energy to the power grid and support the state’s increased electricity needs in the coming years,” said Mike Hooper, President — We Energies. “The Good Oak and Gristmill solar projects are part of our ‘all the above’ energy strategy that supports continued reliability and helps keep energy costs down for our customers.”

We Energies will be the majority owner of the projects, with Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) and Madison Gas and Electric (MGE) as co-owners.

Ownership breakdown:

• We Energies – 78.7 MW Good Oak and 53.6 MW Gristmill
• WPS – 9.8 MW Good Oak and 6.7 MW Gristmill
• MGE – 9.8 MW Good Oak and 6.7 MW Gristmill

The facilities are expected to begin serving customers in 2028, following construction and testing. The project is being developed by OneEnergy Renewables.

Alliant Energy and its charitable foundation, along with the company’s employees and retirees, collectively contributed nearly $6.6 million and over 66,000 volunteer hours to various causes and nonprofits in 2025.  

“We’re proud of the difference we're making, supporting more than 1,280 organizations and distributing over 700 grants in 2025 alone,” said Aimee Davis, Alliant Energy Foundation board chair. “We helped provide fresh dairy products to rural food pantries, which are often difficult for them to source and advanced our goal of planting 1 million trees by 2030, this work reflects our purpose of serving customers and building stronger communities.”