Call on WEC Energy Group: We demand just rates and fossil free infrastructure

Tell We Energies and WPS: give us a break from pollution and greed!

WEC Energy Group, the parent company of We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service (WPS), has proposed large residential rate increases and big investments in dirty fossil fuels. Right now there is an opportunity to submit public comments to tell the Public Service Commission (PSC) to deny these rate increases, prevent increases to guaranteed utility profits, hanging on to uneconomic coal plants and moving forward with new, costly methane gas infrastructure.

We Energies wants an 18.5% rate hike AND dirty gas plants. WPS wants a 20% rate hike AND dirty coal and gas -- It’s time to say NO!

We Energies is pushing for a massive 18.5% increase in customer energy bills while planning to build expensive new gas plants in Wisconsin in Oak Creek and Paris. Meanwhile, WPS wants a 20% residential rate increase and continued operation of uneconomic, dirty coal units near Wausau. If approved, these changes will lock us into decades of higher bills and more pollution. We can’t let that happen.

Although renewable energy and energy efficiency are now the cheapest ways to provide energy, WEC Energy Group is moving forward at full speed with these fossil fuel projects. This would lock the utility into continued fossil fuel burning for decades at a time when we desperately need to stop using them.

What does this mean for you? If WEC gets their way, residential customer energy bills could rise by nearly 20%. For many families, that means hundreds of extra dollars each year—money that could be used for groceries, rent, or other essentials. New gas plants will continue to hike up your costs while causing serious environmental and health problems across Southeast Wisconsin and beyond -- we all suffer from the climate crisis. There are opportunities for the public to engage in this process and urge the Public Service Commission to deny the rate hike and gas plants.

TAKE ACTION:

1. Testify at a We Energies and/or WPS hearing:
   1. Attend the prep webinar to help you learn more and get ready to testify: Tuesday, September 24 online, https://act.sierraclub.org/events/details?formcampaignid=701Po00000M3Lb7IAF&mapLinkHref= 
   2. Hearing info: All hearings online and in person
      1. We Energies: Tues, Oct 1 at 2 & 6 pm  at Cesar Chavez Community Center Gym 2221 Douglas Avenue Racine, Wisconsin or Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/my/pschearings
      2. We Energies: Thur, Oct 3rd at 1 & 6 pm (Milwaukee)
          at Great Lakes Ballroom Drury Plaza Hotel 700 N Water Street Milwaukee, Wisconsin, or on Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/my/pschearings
      3. WPS:  Thur, Oct 10 at 2:00pm and 6:00 PM at Ashwaubenon Community Center Activity Room 900 Anderson Drive, Ashwaubenon Wisconsin, or on Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/my/pschearings
2. Submit a written comment on We Energies and/or WPS's rate case to the PSC:
   1. We Energies talking points: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GantIjkKx1u09suWuvZyvOwtaNkR5vaSJbtxARO4JXc/edit 
   2. WPS talking points: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BghZLg-jcrq-VQx0LMKvSzfmZ_xwHN8gP4lno4rmqhk/edit?usp=sharing
   3. We Energies comment link: https://apps.psc.wi.gov/ERF/ERF/comment/filecomment.aspx?util=5&case=UR&num=111, Due October 7
   4. WPS comment link: https://apps.psc.wi.gov/ERF/ERF/comment/filecomment.aspx?util=6690&case=UR&num=128, Due October 14
3. Sign the petition to WEC at https://addup.sierraclub.org/campaigns/leave-gas-in-the-past
4. Help spread the word about the We Energies and WPS hearings: 
   1. Join us for a lit drop in Racine or Milwaukee (https://www.sierraclub.org/wisconsin/calendar)
   2. Attend the rally (https://www.mobilize.us/actionfortheclimateemergency/event/694875/)
   3. Write and submit a letter to the editor to your local paper