Wisconsin Industrial Energy Group: Statement on Wisconsin Energy’s acquisition of Integrys

Contact: Todd Stuart
(608) 441-5740

Madison – The Wisconsin Industrial Energy Group, Inc. (WIEG) released the following statement after the announcement that Wisconsin Energy Corp. will buy Integrys Energy Group Inc.

“WIEG will be working closely with the regulators and the two utilities to make sure the proposed acquisition makes financial sense for the state’s power consumers,” said Todd Stuart, WIEG’s executive director. “We need to ensure our competitive position significantly improves from this deal.”

WIEG is a nonprofit trade association of large energy consumers that advocates for affordable and reliable energy. WIEG represents more than 30 of Wisconsin’s largest companies, which together employ more than 50,000 Wisconsin residents who themselves are state taxpayers and utility ratepayers. Many of these companies have electric bills of over $1 million each month; for many, these costs are among the companies’ greatest expenses.

WIEG members represent most major Wisconsin manufacturing industries including paper, printing, malting, automobile, food processing, chemical, metal casting, and fabricating. WIEG’s primary focus is to advocate for reliable and cost effective gas and electric service for Wisconsin energy consumers. Since the 1970’s, WIEG has intervened on behalf of its member companies before the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, Executive Branch State Agencies, State Legislature and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.