[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6077071,"mediaKeyId","2965335-b46bc4369c609d3b761cd878f8d8e230","parentId",2965335,"title","Votes at a glance: Public Service Commission open meeting, April 10, 2025","audioSeconds",3259,"startMs",1000,"endMs",3260000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2965335-b46bc4369c609d3b761cd878f8d8e230&start=1&end=3260","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2965335-b46bc4369c609d3b761cd878f8d8e230/thumbnail_1000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6077071/Wisconsin/Votes-at-a-glance-Public-Service-Commission-open-meeting-April-10-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6077071-7da139fa91e36c3b745eb4933fc8ec1a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770822132&Signature=g6Pk778JINzgC0x~fhHPsrQUjOepoZKFep0dtjWwuMcSUowL~JJRyQbTkfpQmlqM~CDRPuk6T7xD~SDMFx71-a-T~XmZ~P13lnWWO4GwAqBS9o0-5gmpbbC0trirOe9Tl2xIYmHaejKgAmaJ8QAv-MZ0l17wchoDKL1su~kWVj-yRBcbvYX7UFsqCTugubWZbzsuMohfPF5BkG93YZNPiNsWCPIwsFp~u8DS78HiWxeaFQmvxYlOjdSYN5fPAz4D~i~IWEQnOm8hrhosQZx5IxUWmhxCl0NxtRJpmfSJBf4Uc9D1T8EEzCTlbxyqKHUDRlkmfdV~RgWOQN1jIsXCSw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Public Service Commission, WI","date","2025-04-11T04:30:09Z","article","The Public Service Commission recorded the following formal motions and voice votes at its April 10, 2025 open meeting. Where the record shows only a voice vote with the phrase “All in favor. Aye,” the item is listed as approved per the meeting record.

- Approval of minutes from the open meeting of March 20, 2025: Motion carried (voice vote recorded as “All in favor. Aye.”).
- Approval of notices of investigation associated with agenda items 2–11: Motion carried (voice vote recorded as “All in favor. Aye.”).
- Approval of notices of proceeding associated with agenda items 12–23: Motion carried (voice vote recorded as “All in favor. Aye.”).
- In docket 5AE244, approve order to reopen notice and request for comments (agenda item 24): Motion carried (voice vote recorded as “All in favor. Aye.”).
- In docket 9705 FG2025, approve State Energy Program Project Year 2025 annual plan as proposed (agenda item 26): Motion carried (voice vote recorded as “All in favor. Aye.”).
- In docket 5BS276 (High Noon), approve joint acquisition by Wisconsin Electric Power Company, Wisconsin Public Service Corporation and Madison Gas & Electric Company consistent with the commission’s discussion: Motion carried (voice vote recorded as “All in favor. Aye.”).
- In docket 137CE209 (Western Feed), approve construction of the Western Feed Transmission Line project with modifications or conditions consistent with the commission’s discussion: Motion carried (voice vote recorded as “All in favor. Aye.”).
- Adjournment: Motion to adjourn until April 24, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. carried.

For items decided by these motions, commissioners directed staff to prepare final orders incorporating adopted conditions; where the record references specific dockets the commission’s final orders and the staff memos contain detailed condition language and technical appendices.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","PSC Commission Meeting 4/10/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Summary of formal motions and outcomes recorded at the Public Service Commission’s April 10, 2025 open meeting.","taxTitle","Public Service Commission, State Agencies, Executive, Wisconsin","taxId",28457,"location","Wisconsin","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6077076,"PSC grants CPCN for ATC’s Western Feed transmission line to serve new large loads in Mount Pleasant",1637,1608000,3245000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2965335-b46bc4369c609d3b761cd878f8d8e230&start=1608&end=3245","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2965335-b46bc4369c609d3b761cd878f8d8e230/thumbnail_1608000.jpg","/articles/6077076/Wisconsin/PSC-grants-CPCN-for-ATCs-Western-Feed-transmission-line-to-serve-new-large-loads-in-Mount-Pleasant","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6077076-84bbe5ef2704c55873aba9c1ea06e734/orig.mp4?Expires=1770822132&Signature=I0Ia3HfLyRxp8HzGCjPx5dFgXmbG~9YHKmZYgmFn2VkBMKoYOIiA1-xB8XOuwL39Oq26kvCj80oz0C60Tla2HNwBho4TaWdPKNCJihQ~I7KZbahdGQDI7040KnAOi81o8utbR6HSsx83DcgyLT24kIL5-j9F3JXRdYsKH3p~k16Ym6bv37E9gW-ItbpDSoWzdQoD96aGgbMy36NUK2wX~rrmRI-AK70SZNKgYeX8LZtxTVu~jma4CH2PUVzFtNGILKn~BFjo4Uzyx0tih9Z7FM2TX8t6uX-S0qECVo20syXJ7qiXhyLf3PkmrZBfWIefTRn5UB0qU~I1X9Vqt2rT3A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Public Service Commission on April 10, 2025, approved American Transmission Company’s application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity to construct and operate the Western Feed transmission line in the village of Mount Pleasant (docket 137CE209).

Commissioner Hawkins, who led the discussion, said the project was needed to serve several new large loads under construction in southeastern Wisconsin and that modeling and staff verification demonstrated the existing transmission system could not reliably serve those loads. He summarized the project components as including multiple sets of new double-circuited 345 kV lines, new 345 kV substations, two statcoms, a capacitor bank and other upgrades, and said the preferred route with a total cost of about $625,200,000 was slightly less expensive than the alternate south route at about $626,200,000.

The commission’s review considered statutory requirements for CPCNs, including alternatives analysis, route impacts, need, engineering, safety, reliability and potential environmental effects. Commissioner Hawkins reviewed a decision matrix that framed 12 contested issues; two issues were uncontested. On issue 1 (need), he said staff and the applicant demonstrated that ATC has an obligation to serve the new loads and that the project resolves thermal and voltage issues that would otherwise occur. On issue 2, he said the project yields regional reliability benefits and that the inclusion of statcoms and capacitor banks was shown in modeling to be cost‑justified.

Route selection was a central portion of the discussion. Commissioners supported the preferred route overall and specifically selected segment 3B over 3A because 3B avoids a residential property and woodlands, even though it requires an additional road crossing. Commissioners noted the preferred route parallels existing rights-of-way to the greatest extent practicable.

The commission adopted a set of general and project‑specific conditions recommended by staff and the Department of Natural Resources designed to limit impacts to wetlands, waterways and other environmental resources. Commissioners also discussed several construction and reporting conditions: (1) line‑of‑sight communications remediation if property owners demonstrate impacts, (2) quarterly progress reports that include hiring and workforce reporting for Wisconsin residents, (3) competitive bid summaries for major work and equipment procurement, and (4) cost-reporting provisions to improve visibility into contingency and contingency‑driven cost changes. One commissioner raised concern that separate cost-reporting conditions could duplicate language already adopted in standard conditions and recommended consolidating reporting requirements; other commissioners supported a project-specific contingency reporting condition to increase early visibility.

The commission concluded the project would not have undue adverse impacts under the environmental statute review and found the record complied with the Wisconsin Environmental Policy Act process. After discussion, a motion to grant the CPCN with the agreed modifications and conditions carried on voice vote; the chair recorded the action as approval.","The Public Service Commission granted American Transmission Company a certificate of public convenience and necessity for the Western Feed transmission line project (docket 137CE209), selecting a preferred route segment and adopting staff- and DNR-recommended conditions to address reliability, land‑use and environmental concerns.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6077082,"PSC approves joint utility purchases of High Noon solar and battery project",1497,103000,1600000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2965335-b46bc4369c609d3b761cd878f8d8e230&start=103&end=1600","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2965335-b46bc4369c609d3b761cd878f8d8e230/thumbnail_103000.jpg","/articles/6077082/Wisconsin/PSC-approves-joint-utility-purchases-of-High-Noon-solar-and-battery-project","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6077082-7bdf3572ae6d1407b43cc5ac50941b81/orig.mp4?Expires=1770822132&Signature=W7KIZFhVZzXu2Q47Vlc51pg3dOtcbjrJNhwKp-MWZWnllYYi5Na39G3QFRKLd8OKye00Di-y2Z3PBmd2CVzzRySpjBEii34NNHvqWFxtUi3Ru0NiOB7tW5NYzfgEf3Xm8CnNwXqZVzpLFs6OaGdlMcYC4qKzBF5Sh~ETQH4Z1Mq-bdUR~xTLVusUVL2ffXrmN6vFHltXqPdqRoXoc96S9KQP9dmE9GMoKg4pXFIBriFvoULItRUmH4zoNnTh0HNSTMBBZftokf3mXc2UXKDQka6xUGEku8ZGNKtehuEysLKYD4bry4p-UljPgeblAuB3GskZJ0OvAMoq~QwHUhMQug__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Public Service Commission on April 10, 2025, voted to approve the joint purchase by Wisconsin Electric Power Company, Wisconsin Public Service Corporation and Madison Gas & Electric Company of the High Noon solar electric generation facility and an associated battery energy storage system in Columbia County (docket 5BS276).

Commission Chair Strand said commissioners must apply Wisconsin statutory standards when reviewing buy-sell transactions under Wis. Stat. ch. 196. He summarized the project as a 300-megawatt solar PV facility with a 165-megawatt battery energy storage system and said the applicants proposed allocated ownership shares of 75% to Wisconsin Electric Power Company, 15% to WPSC and 10% to MGE. Chair Strand said total estimated transaction costs were about $981,100,000 excluding AFUDC and about $1.1 billion including approximately $128.8 million in allowance for funds used during construction (AFUDC).

The commission’s deliberations centered on the statutory criteria in Wisconsin statute section 196.493(b) cited by the chair: whether the acquisition would (1) substantially impair utility service efficiency, (2) provide facilities unreasonably in excess of probable future requirements, or (3) add to the cost of service without proportionately increasing the value or available quantity of service. Chair Strand and other commissioners emphasized that the record included extensive modeling by the applicants and additional modeling requested by staff but that modeling alone does not resolve all questions.

Chair Strand said the commission considered modeling alongside other real-world evidence and noted particular difficulty in modeling batteries. He said, “BESS is hard to model due to the fact that when a battery is not fully charged it represents a load on the system,” and added that co-locating solar with batteries provides benefits that models may not capture. He described the decision as a holistic exercise that required discretion and judgment.

On the three acquisition requests, commissioners reached the same conclusion on each applicant after reviewing modeling and other record evidence. For Wisconsin Electric Power Company (Webco), commissioners described the need as clear and characterized Webco’s acquisition as particularly well supported in the record. Chair Strand said, “Webco’s acquisition of High Noon is a slam dunk.” For WPSC and MGE, commissioners said modeling results showed timing uncertainties but that additional, nonmodeled considerations—such as carbon-reduction benefits, portfolio diversification, anticipated increases in future project costs, and regional reliability contributions—supported approval.

Commission staff had proposed 19 order conditions based on precedent in previous buy-sell dockets; commissioners agreed to include those conditions. The applicants objected to condition 11 and proposed an edit; commissioners declined that edit but indicated an intent to continue refining the commission’s approach to cost-overrun treatment in future dockets. Commissioners discussed—without changing the record figure—the value of additional reporting to improve the commission’s visibility into contingency and contingency-driven cost changes.

After discussion, a commissioner moved to approve the applicants’ acquisition of High Noon consistent with the commission’s discussion; the motion was seconded and the chair called the vote. The motion carried with the commission approving the acquisition as proposed.

The commission’s decision documents (docket 5BS276) record the allocations of solar nameplate and BESS shares, the project siting in towns within Columbia County, and that High Noon’s developer is an Invenergy affiliate previously granted CPCN authority for this project in docket 9814-CE-100.","The Public Service Commission approved Wisconsin Electric Power Co., Wisconsin Public Service Corp. and Madison Gas & Electric’s joint acquisition of the 300 MW High Noon solar facility and its 165 MW battery energy storage system, finding statutory approval criteria were not met to deny the transaction.","actionData","errors"]

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Votes at a glance: Public Service Commission open meeting, April 10, 2025

PSC grants CPCN for ATC’s Western Feed transmission line to serve new large loads in Mount Pleasant

PSC approves joint utility purchases of High Noon solar and battery project