Wisconsin PSC approves Alliant–Meta data center service agreement, orders new large‑load tariff and reporting safeguards

The Wisconsin Public Service Commission on May 7 voted to approve an individual contract rate service agreement allowing Wisconsin Power and Light (Alliant) to serve a proposed 220‑megawatt hyperscale data center to be built by Degas LLC, a Meta subsidiary, in Beaver Dam, subject to a package of conditions meant to protect existing customers and increase transparency.

Commissioner Richard Nieto, who led the discussion, told colleagues the case was “consequential,” noting the proposed load equals several times Beaver Dam’s demand and a material share of the utility’s peak load. Nieto and staff said the commission’s legal standard under Wis. Stat. §§196.192 and 196.37 requires approving market‑based agreements only when they do not harm existing customers or shareholders.

"Existing Wisconsin customers should not pay a single cent to subsidize the service of data centers—not now and not decades from now," Nieto said, urging stronger reporting and safeguards. Chair Strand and Commissioner Hawkins joined Nieto in pressing for both consumer protections and increased public visibility into contract terms and costs.

The commission…