Unlikely allies have joined forces to question a plan to bill Microsoft for $600 million of new power infrastructure to serve the technology giant’s Mount Pleasant data center campus, according to an article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Microsoft and the Citizens Utility Board, a consumer advocacy group, raised questions about the plan, which was forwarded by American Transmission Co., to cover the cost of power lines and substations.
ATC said the plan, which was submitted in July, is designed to shield energy customers from these costs.
Microsoft, in an Aug. 21 filing, contends it doesn’t go far enough to protect electric rate payers and questioned how the agreement allocates the costs.
Under the proposal, We Energies would pay the total cost of transmission requested by the data center, and Microsoft would pay back the utility in full.
In its own filing, the Citizens Utility Board contends the agreement lacks clarity about how transmission costs are allocated and raised questions about their accuracy.
