We Energies rate hike, Milwaukee to study feasibility of utility takeover

Well, get ready to pay more for your WeEnergies bills. WeEnergies put out their preliminary numbers today saying they estimate that there's going to be an increase of 3.9% in 2027 and 3.5% in 2028. They estimate a typical bill will be up between $7 and $8 per month next year and up. Six to seven percent in 2028, WeEnergy says the revenue is needed for a lot of things, ranging from a new solar and wind energy project to infrastructure upgrades and rising operation costs. On the other hand, community members talked about how the increased electric bills come at a time where household expenses are rising and wages are not keeping up with the costs. Today, Milwaukee's Common Council takes aim at WeEnergy. And approved more than a million dollars to look into replacing the region's electric and gas company. Our Jason Calvey joins us live at City Hall with what comes next. Well, Sam, there's still several more steps to go to fund a study to look at the city taking over the power company here in the city. I want to show you the scene at the Common Council meeting this morning as the Common Council voted unanimously 15 to 0 to fund a study. It would pay for a feasibility study. About the city using state law to take over the power company. The council added that study to the 2027 budget, which it approved today. It would call for borrowing up to $1.35 million. The local DSA chapter has been working on this issue for years. And today the Democratic Socialist Alderman Alex Brower successfully got all of his colleagues to agree to a study. Passing this feasibility study right now and voting yes is a shot across the bow of WeEnergies. And if this motion fails today, we energies will know that their power is cemented in this city. That's not true. If they win today, they will know their power is cemented. They will know that they can charge whatever they want. In every single situation is these cities, they spend hundreds of thousands of dollars. In this case, City Milwaukee is looking to spend about $1.3 million to study if they should take over their local utility. And in the end, they're gonna find that it's gonna probably cost billions Billions and billions of dollars and then. When they go to voters, voters are likely going to reject it. And Ann Arbor, Michigan just did that this week. Voters there had the option to vote to approve setting up its own power company, and voters there in Ann Arbor, Michigan rejected it. So this proposal here in Milwaukee next goes to the mayor's desk, and he'll have the option to use his partial veto to scrap the funding for this study out of the budget. Reporting live at City Hall, Jason Calvi. Fox 6 News. Has there been any indication of whether the mayor is for spending this? I mean, we've covered you and I extensively about how there isn't a lot of money to go around in the city of Milwaukee. And the city has had struggles in the past with streetlights. You may remember we've done reports on that in the past. As far as the mayor on this particular proposal, I'm still waiting to get an answer on that particular question. But it is interesting to note that it was a 15 to 0 vote of the Common Council, which means there's plenty of votes there to override the mayor's potential veto if he did decide to veto this. I've been digging into state law on this, Sam, and that is really fascinating because Because it does actually give municipalities the power to take over Utah. utilities, but there are several steps that would have to be taking place. First, the municipality, the local common council mayor would need to approve that. And then secondly, it would have to go to voters in a referendum signing off on setting up the power plant, power company. And then the third step after the city and the voters approve it, then it has to go to court and a jury trial would determine whether it's actually really necessary for the city to take over the power company. So I'm hearing that's an uphill battle. Bottom line. Very much so. And this debate today is just about funding a study to look into the possibility of taking over WeEnergies. All right. We'll stay tuned. But the bottom line is the rates are going up in 2027 and 2028. Thanks.