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WEC Energy Seeks Wisconsin Rate Hikes, Delays Coal Exit

Story Highlights
  • WEC Energy’s utilities filed multi-year rate cases to fund grid investments while pledging Wisconsin bills stay competitive.
  • The company is extending Oak Creek units and pursuing major Illinois settlements and rate hikes to bolster reliability and clear legacy issues.
  • Looking for the best stocks to buy? Follow the recommendations of top-performing analysts.
WEC Energy Seeks Wisconsin Rate Hikes, Delays Coal Exit

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The latest update is out from WEC Energy Group ( (WEC) ).

On April 1, 2026, WEC Energy’s Wisconsin utilities filed rate requests with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin to set new 2027 and 2028 base rates for electric, natural gas and steam service, proposing modest return-on-equity increases to 9.9% and slightly higher equity ratios. The company said the new revenue would fund infrastructure investments to support jobs, economic growth and grid reliability, while asserting that typical residential bills at Wisconsin Electric and Wisconsin Public Service would remain below the U.S. average and comparable to regional peers.

The same day, Wisconsin Electric announced it will delay the retirement of units 7 and 8 at the Oak Creek Power Plant, keeping them available through 2027 as a reliability and affordability bridge following a winter of tight Midwest power supplies and elevated energy prices. WEC Energy also outlined parallel regulatory activity in Illinois, including a proposed $2.3 billion settlement to resolve 12 Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas dockets and separate 2026 rate review filings that, if approved, would raise a typical Peoples Gas bill by about $10 to $11 per month while keeping Chicago winter heating costs among the lowest of major U.S. cities.

The most recent analyst rating on (WEC) stock is a Hold with a $111.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on WEC Energy Group stock, see the WEC Stock Forecast page.

Spark’s Take on WEC Stock

According to Spark, TipRanks’ AI Analyst, WEC is a Neutral.

The score is driven by stable core regulated profitability but held back by weak free-cash-flow consistency and leverage/financing needs. Technicals are supportive with strong trend strength, though momentum looks overbought. Valuation is somewhat expensive for the sector, partially balanced by the dividend yield, while the earnings call was a net positive due to reaffirmed guidance and a stronger demand-driven growth runway.

To see Spark’s full report on WEC stock, click here.

More about WEC Energy Group

WEC Energy Group is a regulated utility holding company serving 4.7 million retail customers across America’s Upper Midwest through electric, natural gas and steam services. With a $37.7 billion market capitalization and $51.5 billion in assets as of March 31, 2026, it owns a 60% stake in American Transmission Company and is positioned as a leading energy provider focused on reliability, customer satisfaction and steady earnings and dividend growth.

The company has delivered consistent performance, exceeding or meeting the top end of earnings guidance on an adjusted basis for 22 consecutive years. It targets 6.5%-7% annual dividend growth, maintains a payout ratio goal of 65%-70% of earnings, and continues to invest in grid hardening and infrastructure to support economic growth and large-scale customers in its service territories.

Average Trading Volume: 2,282,683

Technical Sentiment Signal: Buy

Current Market Cap: $37.69B

For a thorough assessment of WEC stock, go to TipRanks’ Stock Analysis page.

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