A letter from MREA’s Executive Director, Nick Hylla.

“I’ve worked at MREA for over 15 years and have talked to thousands of people about energy issues. In recent years, conversations have changed significantly. Energy issues have become a priority concern. More people are seeking to understand the issues, the stakes, and their options.

We are in a learning moment. Hyperscale datacenters, rising prices, global energy conflict, solar farms, wind farms, transmission lines, pipelines, growing opportunities for home and business energy efficiency and energy production… Many factors are raising our awareness and turning us out to public meetings.

In this spirit, I’d like to share just one significant way that the next Wisconsin governor can impact the Wisconsin energy market. It’s a big one and, after this coming election, it could happen immediately.

I’m referring to the appointment of commissioners at the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW). The PSCW is led by three commissioners that vote on issues including approving power plants and transmission lines proposed by utilities, the rates that you pay on your utility bill, how hyperscale datacenters will pay for energy, and how you might be treated if you want to install your own solar or energy storage. Utilities have monopoly control over their customers and the PSCW regulates the private for-profit utilities (and the municipal utilities) to protect the public interest. Without a regulator, regulated monopolies are just, well, monopolies.

Two commissioners can do a lot. A majority vote out of three votes wins the day.

The governor appoints commissioners and, if they are confirmed by the senate, they serve 6-year terms. You may be interested in knowing that the Wisconsin senate has refused to confirm two of the sitting commissioners. What does this mean? It means that as soon as the new governor takes office, he can appoint two new commissioners and control the majority of the regulatory body.

It is easy to imagine the immediate changes that could be made. Look at the recent commission ruling regarding the Oracle hyperscale datacenter in Port Washington. The commission ruled that the datacenter would have to pay 100% of the cost for the new infrastructure needed to provide its electricity—It would be the biggest energy user in the state. The PSCW also ruled that it had to pay a bond to ensure that if the facility closed early, ratepayers would not be on the hook for unpaid costs. The utility asked for a rehearing, which the PSCW denied. Oracle sued but the commission did not concede. Throughout this, the PSCW stood its ground against two influential interests and defended a new rule that would serve to protect Wisconsin homes and businesses.

If the new Governor has less of an interest, he will have the opportunity to appoint two new commissioners that have less of an interest and less of a backbone as well. Maybe the new governor doesn’t believe so much in “regulation” anyway and thinks the government should just stay out of the way? Maybe he just doesn’t know or just doesn’t care enough and will do what his big donors tell him to do? Or maybe, he’ll support commissioners that fight for a better Wisconsin energy future?

If you value the energy you use, I’d suggest you think about the PSCW when you think about the next governor.”

 

Want to hear more about the status of energy in Wisconsin? View the recording of Nick’s webinar presentation titled “What the Next Governor of Wisconsin Should do with Clean Energy”.