Commission grants certificate for Oak Creek LNG facility with reporting and consumer‑protection conditions

The Public Service Commission on July 17 voted to grant Wisconsin Electric Power Company a certificate of authority to construct a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility and associated pipelines in Oak Creek, conditioned on multiple reporting, safety and cost‑allocation requirements.

The nut graf: Commissioners found the record supported a need for additional firm natural‑gas capacity to serve electric generation customers and existing gas customers, and they approved the Oak Creek LNG project on the condition that the utility provide enhanced reporting, safety training, and future rate‑case cost‑allocation information. The commission also added a project‑specific notification requirement tied to the Elm Road Generating Station conversion and the Lakeshore Western firm‑deliverability estimate.

What the commission approved and why: Wisconsin Electric (described in the record as Wisconsin Electric Power Company gas operations or “WEGO/WIGO”) sought authorization to build an LNG plant tied to the Lakeshore pipeline system and the proposed Rochester lateral. The applicant told the commission the combined plan would address growing firm peak‑day natural‑gas demand;…