MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsinites testified at yesterday’s Public Service Commission (PSC) virtual hearings regarding Alliant Energy’s application for an Individual Contract Rate Agreement (Docket: 6680-TE-115) to serve a data center campus under construction in Beaver Dam. Comments from Power Wisconsin Forward partners and community members urged the PSC to reject this contract application and require Alliant to file a tariff – also known as a rate structure – which is a stronger way to protect customers from the costs of data centers than an individual contract.
Alliant’s case in front of the PSC has been largely redacted from public view, including the data center’s energy demand, the contract length and termination payment calculations. The PSC has supported these redactions, saying that the amount of electrical demand is a trade secret.
“Alliant’s proposal fails to meet the standard of protecting Wisconsin residents from harm, especially when it comes to rising energy bills,” said Brittany Keyes, clean air policy manager at Healthy Climate Wisconsin. “Given the potential public health harms, lack of transparency and the short-sighted and inadequate design of the contract, we need to require a rate structure that will better protect Wisconsin ratepayers from the costs of data centers and can also better protect Wisconsin’s climate, supporting our clean energy goals.”
93% of the comments at the public hearings called for the utility to file a comprehensive rate structure. A rate structure will guarantee transparency in cost allocation, allowing the PSC to evaluate how large data center projects will impact both energy infrastructure and ratepayers, while ensuring the state can plan holistically for its future energy demands.
“Utilities and tech companies insist these facilities will pay their own way, but those
claims do not ensure customer protection, and they have nothing to do with minimizing
environmental harms,” said Amy Barrilleaux, communications director at Clean Wisconsin. “This contract puts too much risk on Alliant’s other customers: Wisconsin families and small businesses. And it prevents the PSC from being able to impose conditions that protect our environment.”
According to Alliant’s 2025 earnings call, large-load customers are part of their 2026 growth strategy. However, the company also highlighted concerns about large growth customers and financial risks if their plans change, require more transmission capacity and leave overbuilt infrastructure behind. This directly supports customer concerns about contract length and financial protections for everyday customers.
Wisconsinites deserve safeguards to protect against the risk of tech companies altering their plans and leaving taxpayers to cover stranded assets. If Alliant’s contract lacks these guardrails, Wisconsin residents could be burdened with paying for leftover infrastructure for decades, even if data center demand slows or shifts.
“The issues in these cases are technical, but for the Citizens Utility Board, the bottom line is not. Put simply, the PSC needs to ensure wealthy tech companies pay their fair share for the energy — and the energy infrastructure — needed to make data centers run,” said Tom Content, executive director at the Citizens Utility Board of Wisconsin. “We are encouraging folks to weigh in by the PSC comment deadline next Tuesday because the decision by the Public Service Commission in this case will address fundamental questions about transparency, fairness and who bears the financial risk of surging energy demand.”
Wisconsin must implement a statewide framework with clear, actionable guidelines to ensure data center projects grow the state’s economy, without compromising public health, affordability, environmental and clean energy goals. The Clean Economy Coalition of Wisconsin (CECW) released its Data Center Accountability Framework, a statewide roadmap for policymakers to manage Wisconsin’s rapid expansion of large-scale data centers.
The public comment period for Alliant Energy’s Individual Contract Rate Agreement is open through March 3, 2026. Community members may submit comments at the link here. To view public comments already submitted in the docket, click the following link: Public Comments for Docket 6680-TE-115
For additional quotes or to schedule an interview, please see the attached quote sheet or contact powerwisconsinforward@muellercommunications.com