Planning Ahead: How Integrated Resource Planning in Wisconsin Can Lower Energy Bills

Planning Ahead · Wisconsin

Wisconsin Residents are Overpaying for Energy

Energy costs are out of control in Wisconsin, and there is not enough review of utility planning. State leaders should act today and enact a modern energy planning process to save consumers money.

Download the report’s findings Read the analysis

Replacing the Elm Road power plant would have saved each household $681 from 2021–2024

We Energies could have saved $164 million at each of its power plants each year

We Energies customers could have saved $157 per year in both 2022 and 2023.

Alliant could have saved $10 million per plant each year

The Roadmap

Wisconsin decisionmakers can act today to lower utility bills

Wisconsin residents are facing increasing energy costs, and continued inefficient planning threatens to make the problem even worse. State leaders should modernize the energy planning process to ensure transparency and lower costs for consumers. Access the Full Wisconsin State Policy Roadmap

Make It Affordable

Ensure utilities select the most affordable solutions.

Better planning will prevent utilities from relying extensively on aging, outdated power plants. Planning will enable Wisconsin to have a more diverse, affordable energy portfolio that lowers costs for consumers.

Change the law to require better planning and procurement.
Lower utility bills for Wisconsin homes and businesses.
Modernize the state’s energy portfolio by incorporating the most affordable solutions.

Make It Transparent

Provide oversight of utility planning and spending.

Wisconsin law allows utilities to spend hundreds of millions of dollars every year to keep inefficient resources online – with little oversight. A comprehensive planning process would bolster transparency.

Make sure the most affordable energy options can get to market.
Plan ahead to protect ratepayers.
Utilize opportunities for stakeholder engagement.

Make It Reliable

Ensure utilities are selecting reliable resources.

With energy demand continuing to skyrocket, an Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) process would require utilities to select the most reliable energy generation mixes.

Ensure utilities are prepared for Wisconsin’s growing energy needs.
Require utilities to prioritize reliability and affordability.
Make sure we aren’t spending too much to build costly, unreliable resources.

The Full Report

Read about the value of an Integrated Resource Planning process

How an IRP would save consumers money, why we need more utility transparency, and how we can modernize energy planning in this era of growing demand.