Are you concerned about data centers and how they could impact your utility bills?
The Public Service Commission (PSC) will soon make decisions in two important cases that will determine whether data center developers pay 100% of the costs for their power and infrastructure, or if some of those costs will be passed on to regular ratepayers. It’s critical that regulators hear directly from the people most affected by these decisions, including everyday Wisconsinites and small businesses.
You can make your voice heard by attending a hearing or submitting a public comment to the PSC. Here are the details:
Case 6680-TE-115
What is this case about?
Alliant Energy is asking the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) to approve an agreement to provide power to Meta’s new data center in Beaver Dam. The PSC is allowing Alliant to keep critical details a secret, including the amount of electricity needed to power the massive facility. (In a separate legal action, MEA is suing the PSC for refusing to release that information.)
How does the proposed rate structure fall short?
- It does not fully account for the cost of transmission and distribution infrastructure.
- The length of the contract is too short and leaves Wisconsinites on the hook for the full cost of infrastructure after ten years.
- The threshold that determines what qualifies as a “Very Large Customer” is so high that it wouldn’t cover most data centers.
- Data centers must pay 100% of their energy and infrastructure costs.
- The length of a contract should match the full lifespan of the energy infrastructure built to serve a data center.
- The threshold that determines what qualifies as a “very large user” should be lowered to 20 megawatts.
- Submit a public comment to the PSC by March 3.
- Attend one of the virtual public hearings on February 24 at 1 PM or 6 M: Join on Zoom or watch live on YouTube.
- Resources to help you prepare are available here and here.
Case 6630-TE-113
What is this case about?
We Energies is asking the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) to approve a proposal for a new rate structure to determine who pays for the power and energy infrastructure needed to serve data centers. The proposed rate structure is called a Very Large Customer (VLC) tariff.
What else is being hidden from the public?
- The amount of electricity the data center will consume
- How much of the electricity and energy infrastructure will be paid for by regular ratepayers
- Whether the contract length matches the full lifespan of the energy infrastructure that will be built to serve the data center. If it doesn’t, costs could be shifted to the public if the data center leaves or downsizes.
- What should the public demand?
- The data center must pay 100% of their energy and infrastructure costs.
- The length of the contract should match the full lifespan of the energy infrastructure built to serve the data center.
- The agreement should prioritize new clean energy and battery storage, not fossil fuel expansion.
What are the opportunities to get involved?
- Submit a public comment to the PSC by February 17.
- Attend one of the virtual public hearings on February 10 at 1 PM or 6 PM. Join on Zoom or watch live on YouTube.
- Resources to help you prepare are available here and here.
