Take action before February 17th.
Say “No Discounts for Data Centers!”
It’s not too late to submit a written comment to the Public Service Commission!
apps.psc.wi.gov/ERF/ERF/comment/filecomment.aspx?util=6630&case=TE&num=113
On February 10, there was a hearing by the Public Service Commission about the proposed tariff that will give discounts to large energy users (data centers) and will create the conditions to raise electricity rates for everyone else. Although Microsoft has touted its willingness to pay its fair share, and has claimed that residents would not have to pay for the data center’s electricity, the proposed tariff will pass on energy costs that are directly connected to the presence of these data centers.
The tariff outlines the deal, holding data centers responsible for only 75% of the infrastructure cost of the natural gas power plants, while residents would be responsible for 25% of the infrastructure cost PLUS 100% of the fuel charges.
4 other reasons this tariff is in the worst interest of the residents:
1. The term length is too short.
2. The definition of a very larger customer is obscenely high and therefore doesn’t provide any protection from rate increases related to new, smaller data centers.
3. There is no transparency. Specific information about energy usage and costs incurred by data centers has been redacted as trade secrets. How can the public fully understand the impacts of any proposal when the details of the proposal are not made available for scrutiny?
4. Building fossil fuel power plants to satisfy the energy needs of a totally new industry, which will use 2-3 times more electricity than the state of Wisconsin is short-sighted and will endanger public health, both in regard to the immediate health effects of air and water pollution, and the downstream of effects of worsening climate change.
Below are a few things that current tariff lacks that a tariff written in the public’s best interest should have:
Make data centers pay for 100% of their costs (transmission, fuel, infrastructure, etc.)
Rate protections that are mandatory for all large (20 megawatts or more) data centers.
Protection for communities from all costs for the full lifetime of any infrastructure built.
Prioritization of new clean energy and battery storage.
A community benefits agreement or an energy impact fund.
You’re voice matters - you can tell the PSC this proposed discount is a bad plan.
How to submit a written comment:
Go to the link below to submit a written comment.
Public Comment Period: 01/08/2026 - 02/17/2026
apps.psc.wi.gov/ERF/ERF/comment/filecomment.aspx?util=6630&case=TE&num=113
Not sure of what to say? That’s okay!
It doesn’t need to be perfect, and this isn’t a poetry contest! However, without your input and your neighbor’s input, we are ALL vulnerable to the whims of large corporations.
Consider using the format below, and you can see what I will be submitting for public comment as example!
Suggested Comment Format:
Introduction: State your name and city/county. (1-2 sentences)
Why you oppose this proposal: Explain why you oppose the proposal and why you believe it is unfair to residents in its current form. (2-5 sentences)
Name the who REALLY benefits: Stress that the PSC should protect people, not big tech profits. (1-2 sentences.
Final Ask: Ask the PSC to reject the tariff and propose a new tariff which has stronger guardrails to protect the public. (1-2 sentences)
My Example:
My name is Nicholas Prorok and I live in Kenosha, WI. I am against this proposal because it will inevitably lead to higher electricity bills for residents. It is careless and unfair to offer any options to billion-dollar corporations that would result in residents subsidizing the costs of their operations. This proposal makes residents responsible for 25% of new infrastructure costs and 100% of fuel costs, all of which is only necessary to accommodate data centers. Any option in which data centers are not required to pay 100% of all costs for all fuel and infrastructure for the life of the assets is unacceptable.
WE Energies and data center companies have not been very transparent with their negotiations or the consequences for consumers. The PSC must reject the tariff and propose a new tariff which has stronger guardrails to protect the public.
Thank you for your time.