WIEG: the voice for Wisconsin’s energy-intensive businesses
The Wisconsin Industrial Energy Group, Inc. (WIEG) is a non-profit association of large energy consumers that advocates for policies that drive cost competitive and reliable energy. Since the early 1970s, WIEG has been the premiere voice of Wisconsin ratepayers and an engine for business retention and expansion.
Wisconsin’s economy is at a crossroads. Wisconsin has the most manufacturing jobs per capita in the country. We’re number one for paper production, plus rank near the top for metal casting and food processing. Unfortunately, our state has lost roughly 170,000 jobs since the start of the recession and nearly 70,000 manufacturing jobs. Wisconsin can’t afford to lose more of these high-paying jobs.
A recent report by the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance highlighted the fact that from 2000-09, electricity prices here rose faster than in all but five states. Wisconsin’s electric rates have gone from some of the lowest in the country to now among the highest in the Midwest. WIEG has killed costly regulations such as global warming legislation that would have further damaged our competitive position.
Energy fuels Wisconsin’s industry and Wisconsin’s economy. Energy is a major cost of doing business, and its affordability can help or hinder job creation. In the next legislative session WIEG will fight to regain our competitive advantage with initiatives such as:
· Adopting fair cost allocation & rate design for industrial customers.
· Developing innovative tariffs such as special contract tariffs, economic development rates and new real time pricing tariffs.
· Mitigating the cost of the EPA’s “train wreck” for Wisconsin’s ratepayers.
· Tightening or triggering the Act 141 cost offramps.
· Developing energy efficiency programs that get the most “bang for the buck” with cost containment or opt-out language for large customers.
Please consider joining WIEG to strengthen our fight to protect ratepayers and preserve jobs in Wisconsin.
