News

The Wisconsin Public Service Foundation is putting important new tools in the hands of the men and women who keep communities across Wisconsin safe. WPS Foundation is awarding $75,000 to help more than 40 area public safety agencies purchase lifesaving equipment.

The funding is part of the WPS Foundation’s Rewarding Responders Grant program, which supports first responders across northeast and north central Wisconsin.

“We are honored to support the brave individuals who work tirelessly to keep our neighborhoods safe, secure and welcoming,” said Beth Straka, president — WPS Foundation. “From helping children safely get to school to providing critical  medical care, these grants give first responders the invaluable tools they need to serve our communities.”

Site Selection Magazine announced for the sixth consecutive year that Alliant Energy has earned their Top Utility in Economic Development honor. The annual list recognizes the company for its contributions to local community development and job creation.

In its September issue, Site Selection credits Alliant Energy’s economic development team, in collaboration with local, regional and state economic development partners in Iowa and Wisconsin for delivering nearly $3.5 billion in new capital investment and creating more than 4,101 new jobs in 2023.

Alliant Energy is one of 21 companies nationally named to the list and the only one in Iowa and Wisconsin. In all, there are 3,300 utility companies, including 900 electric cooperatives, in the United States. “Alliant Energy is proud to be honored as a top utility in economic development for the sixth consecutive year,” said Lisa Barton, President and CEO of Alliant Energy. “Economic development work is a team effort and vital to grow the communities we serve.

As the energy grid evolves in the coming years, Xcel Energy and other regional utilities are preparing to meet the changing energy needs of customers, with the goal of increasing the amount of carbon-free and renewable energy while ensuring continued electric reliability for their customers.

To deliver on its strategy, Xcel Energy has filed an application for Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin for a new high voltage transmission line that will bring renewable energy to customers in Wisconsin, improve long-term reliability, and help manage the energy grid as it evolves.

Project Details and Benefits

The Western Wisconsin Transmission Connection is a proposed new 345-kilovolt transmission line that, if approved by the PSCW, will begin near Blair, Wis., connect to existing infrastructure near Eau Claire, and then connect to existing transmission lines to the north and east. Xcel Energy has proposed two route options for the PSCW to review.

“Delivering low-cost renewable energy to customers, while also providing unmatched reliability and keeping bills affordable is how Xcel Energy will lead the clean energy transition,” according to Karl Hoesly, President, Xcel Energy-

Wisconsin. “Projects like the Western Wisconsin Transmission Connection is a key step in serving our customers with the affordable, reliable, carbon-free electricity they need while also building the grid of the future for the region.”

The Western Wisconsin Transmission Connection, along with other projects being developed in Minnesota and Wisconsin, will enable the delivery of more than 2,500 megawatts of new renewable energy to customers in the two states, enough to power more than 1.3 million homes each year.

When combined with other transmission lines being developed in the region, including the Grid Forward-Central Wisconsin project proposed by ATC and Xcel Energy, the total economic benefit could exceed $900 million. These benefits will be delivered to customers through new access to low-cost renewable energy, improved long-term reliability and system resilience, and improved system performance that will help the grid operate more efficiently. Additionally, the Western Wisconsin Transmission Connection is expected to employ approximately 350 construction workers to help build the project. 

Bellin and Gundersen Health System have teamed up with a utility company to help  create an energy-efficient healthcare campus. The newly rebranded Emplify Health has launched the project with Xcel Energy, which will result in the first 100 percent resilient and renewable energy healthcare campuses in the United States.

The all-renewable energy microgrid on the health system’s Onalaska Campus will combine a new battery energy storage system with Gundersen’s existing solar panels and energy generated through a longtime partnership with the La Crosse County Landfill for even greater sustainability and resiliency during power grid outages.

The 44th Annual Meeting of Members was held at the Experimental Aircraft Association Museum in Oshkosh, WI, on September 19, 2024. After the meeting, members were treated to a guided museum tour.

After the business of the Annual Meeting was concluded, including an introduction to the current board members, nominations for the next year’s board, and treasury report, a panel comprised of representatives from Alliant Energy, MGE, WEC Energy Group, and Xcel Energy, focused on their respective company’s progress and energy initiatives.

Scott Jensen, political analyst, spoke to the membership about “Why Wisconsin is the Center of the Political Universe” regarding this presidential election year and the new districting map, which has made most of the legislative districts more competitive. The makeup of the state legislature will most likely take on a more bipartisan nature in the coming year, which will encourage debate.

Following Scott Jensen, Representative David Steffen, Chair of the Committee on Energy and Utilities, reviewed the issues that had come before the committee in the past year and said the ROFR (Right of First Refusal) had narrowly lost in the Senate and would likely come up for vote again in the new session. Steffen also encouraged members to contact their legislators regarding issues that are important to them and to share their perspectives with their representatives.

The WUI Board of Directors wishes to thank all members who attended the 2024 Annual Meeting, expert panel members, and guest speakers Scott Jensen and Rep. David Steffen.

   

Wisconsin Public Service is once again receiving national recognition for providing outstanding service to its customers. J.D. Power has named WPS as the best electric utility in the Midwest for customer satisfaction and trust in a recent nationwide study.

WPS is receiving the honor based on its strong finish in the J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Electric Utility Brand Appeal Index Study. WPS finished nearly 30 points higher in the study than the average Midwest electric utility’s score.

“This honor reflects our commitment to our customers,” according to Mike Hooper, President — WPS. “From delivering affordable, reliable and clean energy around the clock to supporting worthy causes across our region, our employees are proud to support their communities every day.”

WEC Energy Group has released its 2023 Corporate Responsibility Report. The report provides a comprehensive overview of the company's environmental, social and governance performance. The report outlines the progress made by WEC Energy Group and its family of companies on major projects and the company's mission to deliver affordable, reliable and clean energy across the Midwest.

The report also examines the company's climate strategy and the research and development of emerging technologies such as renewable natural gas, hydrogen power and long-duration battery storage.

"We're pleased to report that we continued to make solid progress on our industry-leading targets for reducing carbon and methane emissions. We recently retired additional coal generation, and moved up our timeline for a complete exit from coal — now planned by the end of 2032 — while adding renewable power and efficient natural gas to reliably serve our customers," according to Scott Lauber, President and CEO. "We have served the people of the Midwest for more than a century. The future is bright, and we are dedicated to powering our communities now and for many years to come.”

Xcel Energy is seeking proposals for a major expansion of its Texas-New Mexico power generating system as older power plants are retired in the coming years and electricity demand is forecast to increase to meet the needs of a growing regional economy.

“We have served this region for more than 100 years, and we have a strong history of investing in power generating resources to sustain the growth of our communities and key industries at key points in their development,” according to Adrian J. Rodriguez, president, Xcel Energy Texas–New Mexico. “We are excited to have another historic opportunity to realize an energy future that is cost-efficient, diverse and balanced with an aim of serving our customers economically for years to come.”

Alliant Energy has broken ground on two solar projects in Janesville, both east of the Rock Haven assisted living facility. One is a 2.25-megawatt community solar garden, and the other is a 1.4-MW customer-hosted project for Rock County.

The Alliant Energy® Community Solar program allows the company’s electric customers to subscribe and benefit from solar power without installing solar panels on their property. Subscribers receive monthly credits on their electric bills for every solar block purchased.

Approximately thirty percent of the community solar garden’s 9,000 blocks remain available.

Xcel Energy Second Quarter 2024 Earnings Report

Xcel Energy has reported 2024 second quarter GAAP and ongoing earnings of $302 million, or $0.54 per share, compared with $288 million, or $0.52 per share in the same period in 2023.

Second quarter ongoing earnings reflect recovery of increased infrastructure investments and warmer than normal weather, partially offset by increased depreciation, interest charges and O&M expenses.

“Xcel Energy continues to meet the growing demand for energy from our customers while driving forward the clean energy transition and adapting to changing regulatory and environmental conditions,” said Bob Frenzel, Chairman, President and CEO of Xcel Energy. “We are reaffirming our earnings guidance of $3.50 - $3.60 per share.”

“We continue to advance proposals to enhance the resiliency and sustainability of our system for the safety and benefit of our customers. In Colorado, we filed an updated Wildfire Mitigation Plan that builds upon our existing investments,” Frenzel said. “We also supported legislation that will help the state achieve a smoother clean energy transition by enhancing the distribution system planning process in Colorado. And in Minnesota, we collaborated with stakeholders to achieve a settlement in our natural gas rate case that supports improvements while keeping our residential customers’ natural gas rates below the national average.”

WEC Energy Group Reports Second Quarter Results

WEC Energy Group has reported net income of $211.3 million, or 67 cents per share, for the second quarter of 2024 — down from $289.7 million, or 92 cents per share, in last year's second quarter. For the first six months of 2024, the company recorded net income of $833.6 million, or $2.64 per share — up from $797.2 million, or $2.52 per share, in the corresponding period a year ago. Consolidated revenues totaled $4.5 billion, down $265.9 million from the first half of 2023.

"Despite the warmest winter on record, we're delivering solid results, and we're firmly on track for a strong 2024," according to Scott Lauber, President and CEO. "We're focused on the fundamentals of our business — financial discipline, customer satisfaction and operating efficiency."

Retail deliveries of electricity — excluding the iron ore mine in Michigan's Upper Peninsula — were up by 0.5 percent in the second quarter of 2024, compared to the second quarter last year. Electricity consumption by small commercial and industrial customers was 0.3 percent higher. Electricity use by large commercial and industrial customers — excluding the iron ore mine — declined by 0.1 percent. Residential electricity use rose by 1.4 percent.

On a weather-normal basis, retail deliveries of electricity during the second quarter of this year – excluding the iron ore mine — decreased by 0.3 percent. The company is reaffirming its 2024 earnings guidance of $4.80 to $4.90 per share. This assumes normal weather for the remainder of the year.

MGE Energy Reports Second Quarter 2024 Earnings

MGE Energy's earnings for the second quarter of 2024 were $23.8 million, or $0.66 per share, compared to $28.7 million, or $0.79 per share, for the same period in the prior year.

In the second quarter of 2024, electric net income decreased $6.0 million compared to the second quarter of 2023. Second quarter results were partially driven by higher fuel costs during 2024 compared to the 2024 fuel cost plan approved by the PSCW.

Weather also was a driver of lower electric and gas sales for the quarter. Electric residential sales decreased approximately four percent and gas retail sales decreased approximately ten percent compared to the same period in the prior year.