Transparency Dispute Arises Over Alliant Energy’s Rate Proposal for Meta’s Data Center
The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) is engaged in a transparency dispute with Alliant Energy over the utility’s proposal for custom electric rates intended for Meta’s substantial data center in Beaver Dam. The commission has requested Alliant Energy to refile its documents with fewer redactions to allow for a more open review process.
During recent public hearings and a session on Thursday, Administrative Law Judge Michael Newmark expressed concerns about the excessive redactions in Alliant’s submission. “It seemed like the redactions were not going to allow us to do sort of the basic functions of open government,” he remarked.
Alliant Energy’s initial application, filed last year, sought approval for an Individual Contract Rate Agreement for the data center. However, the document, heavily redacted, omitted crucial details such as the energy consumption forecast. The PSC has since mandated that Alliant resubmit a clearer version by Friday at 4 p.m.
The updated application identifies the customer as Degas LLC, a pseudonym used by Meta during the project’s development phase before it was publicly disclosed. The new submission reveals that Alliant will provide up to 220 megawatts of power to the data center under a 10-year agreement. Post this period, the rates may be renegotiated or standard rates could apply, pending regulatory approval.
Initially, both the contract length and power usage figures were obscured in the documents. The utility is also tasked with resubmitting additional materials such as data responses and testimony with fewer redactions, a process that might require multiple iterations until the commission is satisfied. A PSC spokesperson highlighted that these measures aim to enhance public transparency.
The period for public comments has been extended to March 9, with a possibility of further extension as more information is unveiled.
Alliant Energy’s attorney, David Zoppo, clarified that the initial redactions were not intended to conceal but to safeguard potential future deals and customer data. “They’re coming from a place of if we have another deal like this in the future, we want to make sure that we get our customers the best deal and we also want to make sure that we’re protecting the customer’s information,” he stated.
Following discussions in a closed session, Zoppo committed to minimizing redactions and indicated that Alliant would refile the application by the close of business on Friday. Newmark emphasized the importance of transparency, suggesting that fewer redactions would facilitate public scrutiny and ensure the commission’s decisions are robust both legally and publicly.
Sophia Rogers, a PSC attorney, acknowledged the oversight in approving the heavily redacted application initially. “Looking back with the benefit of hindsight and the full development of the record, it’s abundantly clear that we need to resolve these issues,” she noted, adding that the staff aims to complete the review in under 30 days.
Public reaction was critical of the redactions during hearings, with Madison resident Don Ferber voicing concern over the lack of information available for public comment. “We don’t even have the information on which to provide comments as to whether this is protecting our interest,” he said, calling the situation “unacceptable.”
