Energy Tracker

FREE Focus on Energy Box

Focus on Energy is Wisconsin's statewide program for energy efficiency. They offer free kits with items like LED light bulbs, smart power strips, and efficient showerheads to help you save energy and money at home.

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Renewable Energy Credits

For a small amount on your monthly bill, you can purchase Renewable Energy Credits (RECs). This tells your utility to buy more power from renewable sources like wind and solar, directly supporting the growth of clean energy in our region.

The Grid's Grand Conductor: Meet MISO 🎶

Think of MISO (Midcontinent Independent System Operator) as the "air traffic control" for the power grid across the Midwest, including Wisconsin. They don't own the power plants, but they direct the flow of electricity second by second to make sure there's always enough to go around, preventing blackouts. It's a massive balancing act!

They manage the energy market, ensuring the cheapest available electricity (which is often wind and solar! 🌬️☀️) gets sent out first. This helps keep your costs down and integrates renewable energy into the grid on a massive scale. When we build more renewable energy in Wisconsin, MISO is the organization that helps get that clean power onto the "energy highway" and delivered to us.

The Rulebook Writers: Wisconsin's PSC ⚖️

The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) is like the referee for our state's utilities (like MGE and Alliant). They are a state agency whose job is to make sure utilities are playing fair, that your rates are reasonable, and that the lights stay on.

The PSC approves or denies big projects, like building a new solar farm or raising electricity prices. When MGE or Alliant wants to change how they do things, they have to get the PSC's permission first. The PSC is one of the most powerful players in deciding how quickly Wisconsin transitions to clean energy.

Your Home Team: The Utilities 🏡

You already know them – MGE and Alliant Energy! They are the ones who own the power plants, the poles, and the wires that bring electricity directly to your home. They are on the front lines, building the new solar farms and maintaining the grid you use every day.

Your choices as a customer send a powerful signal. When enough of us show we want clean energy (by participating in programs or saving energy), it helps utilities make the case to the PSC that investing in renewables is the right move for everyone.

Tying It All Together for a Greener Future 🌎

So, MISO manages the regional highway, the PSC sets the speed limits and rules of the road in Wisconsin, and your local utility drives the car that delivers the power to your door.

This is where PlanetPatch comes in! Our goal is to give you a clear map of this complex system. By building software like the Energy Tracker, we provide the information you need to see your role in the bigger picture. We then connect you to meaningful opportunities like the Focus on Energy program and Renewable Credits. With your support and funding, we can continue to build tools that make climate resilience actions accessible and meaningful, especially for young people in our community.

Building a climate-resilient future means making smart choices at every level – from MISO integrating more renewables, to the PSC approving new solar projects, to us, as customers, showing we're ready for a cleaner grid. You're not just a consumer; you're a participant in this massive team effort! 💪