Council Approves $1.35 Million to Study We Energies Takeover

Power to the People campaign at Milwaukee City Hall. Photo by Jeramey Jannene. The Milwaukee Common Council voted unanimously Friday to authorize up to $1.35 million in borrowing to study replacing We Energies with a city-owned electric utility, a major victory for a grassroots campaign seeking to transform how Milwaukee residents receive electricity. The 15-0 vote came during the council s debate over the city s 2027 budget and followed an extended discussion about rising electricity costs, corporate profits and the feasibility of a public takeover. The proposal, which remains subject to a potential veto by Mayor Cavalier Johnson, does not authorize the city to purchase or condemn any We Energies infrastructure. Instead, it would fund a feasibility study to determine whether a publicly owned electric utility would be financially and operationally viable. It s the first step in owning our grid and replacing We Energies, said Ald. Alex Brower, the proposal s leading advocate. Brower,