Milwaukee to hold hearing on converting We Energies into public ownership

Milwaukee will hold a public hearing on converting We Energies into public ownership. 

The hearing is before the Public Transportation, Utilities and Waterways Review Board on June 24 at 9 a.m. in Room 301-B at City Hall. 

The issue would ultimately be before the Public Works Committee but this hearing before the review board opens the issue for consideration and allows for a deeper discussion about the issue. 

At the center of the discussion is Chapter 197, a Wisconsin state law surrounding municipality power over utilities. 

An attorney with the Democratic Socialists of America will explain the law and a representative with American Public Power Association will present followed by public comments. 

Converting We Energies to public ownership has long been an issue that DSA campaigned on. Ald. Alex Brower, a member of DSA, is on the review board. 

“This gives us the opportunity to have a longer public comment period, and longer testimony, and more in depth discussion,” he said.

About 1 in 7 Americans live in a municipality where they get electricity from a public power utility.