Waste heat technology ITC

Posted January 6, 2021
Categories: Uncategorized

The Consolidated Appropriation Act, 2021 included a 26% Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for “Waste Energy Recovery Property.” Waste Heat Recovery/Waste Heat to Power technology now has tax treatment similar to other generation from renewable resources. WIEG appreciates the hard work and bipartisan effort of Congressional manufacturing champions to get the waste heat ITC across the finish line.


Regulators approve 1-year electricity rate freeze, 4.1% gas increase for MGE customers

Posted November 25, 2020
Categories: Uncategorized

We appreciated the transparency and good faith negotiations of the utility. MGE’s electric rates will now remain unchanged through December 31, 2021. There was one provision WIEG specifically requested as it is good for both energy efficiency efforts and economic development. The new customer baseline adjustment for MGE’s New Load Market Pricing tariff (RNL-1) removes a disincentive to businesses undertaking energy efficiency projects and participating in demand response programs.

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Point Beach owner seeks to run Wisconsin’s last nuclear plant for 80 years

Posted November 18, 2020
Categories: Uncategorized

Under the agreement, the utility is paying $52.66 per megawatt-hour this year, about 1.8 times the average wholesale price for electricity in the Midwest, according to data from the Energy Information Administration. By 2033, the cost rises to $122.45 per megawatt hour. The utility has agreed to work with consumer advocates and regulators to review the contract, which it cited earlier this year as the driving factor for a rate increase.

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WIEG and CUB applaud PSC vote to refinance $100 million from retired power plant

Posted November 8, 2020
Categories: Uncategorized

The PSC granted the request of WEPCO regarding a financing order to authorize environmental trust financing (6630-ET-101). The utility estimates the issuance of environmental trust bonds to securitize $100 million of the remaining investment in environmental controls at Pleasant Prairie will deliver $40 million in customer savings over time. Securitization is in some ways similar to refinancing a mortgage. It’s a process by which a utility replaces relatively high-cost debt and equity, which is charged to electricity customers, with lower-cost debt in the form of securitization bonds. This gives the utility a more favorable bond issue and saves ratepayers money. Securitization of undepreciated costs of Pleasant Prairie was a key part of the 2019 rate case settlement involving WEPCO and negotiated by consumer groups CUB and WIEG (05-UR-109). (more…)


New industrial rates benchmarks

Posted March 2, 2020
Categories: Uncategorized

Here are the latest industrial rate comparisons for Wisconsin’s investor-owned utilities. Most base rates have been relatively flat or frozen in recent years (fluctuations are allowed for fuel costs) but certain utilities have rates higher than the regional averages. WIEG is working hard to secure competitive rates for large Wisconsin energy consumers.

Industrial Rates 2009-2019

Industrial Rates 2019