MADISON, WI - The Customers First Coalition is pleased to announce the release of its policy brief, Understanding Energy Costs in 2026.

As Wisconsin's energy needs continue to evolve, understanding what drives customer energy costs has never been more important. This report examines the many factors that influence energy bills—from infrastructure replacement and supply chain challenges to fuel market volatility, weather, and growing electricity demand—while highlighting the role of effective regulation in balancing affordability, reliability, and long-term planning.

The policy brief explores Wisconsin's regulatory model, compares Wisconsin's household energy costs with regional and national averages, examines the state's changing energy mix, and discusses practical policy approaches to help keep electricity affordable and reliable for Wisconsin customers. It also highlights the importance of energy efficiency, customer assistance programs, demand response, consumer advocacy, and ensuring that large new energy users pay their fair share of infrastructure costs.

Our goal is to provide policymakers, regulators, utilities, consumer advocates, and other stakeholders with data-driven context about the factors shaping energy costs today and the collaborative approaches that can help Wisconsin continue delivering safe, reliable, and affordable electricity for years to come.

Download the full policy brief here.