Who Owns Wisconsin Public Service?
Wisconsin Public Service is owned by WEC Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE: WEC), a publicly traded utility holding company headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded in 1883 in Oshkosh as the Oshkosh Gas Light Company, it is a wholly owned subsidiary providing electricity and natural gas to more than 824,000 customers in northeastern and central Wisconsin from its Green Bay headquarters.
Parent Company
Founded
1883
Status
Publicly Traded
Headquarters
United StatesOfficial Website
Who Owns Wisconsin Public Service?
- Parent Company: WEC Energy Group, Inc.
- Ownership Type: Wholly owned
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock Ticker: New York Stock Exchange: WEC
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin Public Service | WEC Energy Group, Inc. | Wholly owned |
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History of Wisconsin Public Service
- Founded: 1883
- Founders: Oshkosh Gas Light Company
The company started in 1883 as the Oshkosh Gas Light Company, one of Wisconsin's earliest gas utilities. It grew through mergers and acquisitions into a combined electric and gas provider covering the northeastern quadrant of the state and took the Wisconsin Public Service name in the early 20th century.
Headquarters moved to Green Bay, which remains its base. For decades the company operated as an independent utility, with its holding company WPS Resources trading on the NYSE under ticker WPS.
In 2007 WPS Resources merged with Chicago-based Peoples Energy to form Integrys Energy Group. Wisconsin Energy's 2015 acquisition of Integrys, which created WEC Energy Group, brought WPS under its current ownership. In 2017 the utility's Upper Peninsula of Michigan operations transferred to the newly created Upper Michigan Energy Resources.
Recent decades brought major generation changes: retirement of the Pulliam coal plant in Green Bay, the Weston 4 gas investment, and additions of solar and gas capacity across its territory.
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About WEC Energy Group, Inc.
Is WEC Energy Group publicly traded?
Yes. It trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker WEC and is a member of the S&P 500.
What is the difference between WEC Energy Group and We Energies?
WEC Energy Group is the parent holding company. We Energies is its largest operating utility, the trade name of Wisconsin Electric Power Company and Wisconsin Gas LLC.
How many customers does WEC Energy Group serve?
About 4.8 million electric and natural gas customers across Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, and Minnesota.
Who is the CEO of WEC Energy Group?
Scott Lauber. He became president and CEO in February 2022 and was named chairman of the board in May 2026.
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Does WEC Energy Group still use coal?
Yes, but on a declining basis. It expects to use coal only as a backup fuel by the end of 2030 and to eliminate coal by the end of 2032.
When was WEC Energy Group formed?
The holding company was incorporated in 1981 as Wisconsin Energy Corporation and renamed WEC Energy Group in 2015 after acquiring Integrys Energy Group.
- Founded: 1981
- Headquarters: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock: New York Stock Exchange: WEC
- Revenue: Approximately $9.8 billion (FY2025)
- Employees: Approximately 7,000
Where Is Wisconsin Public Service Made / Based?
- Headquarters: Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA
Wisconsin Public Service Categories & Tags
Wisconsin Public Service Recalls & Controversies
Rate cases: Periodic rate increase requests before the Wisconsin commission draw standard scrutiny from consumer and industrial intervenors.
Generation transition: Coal retirements and new gas investment have prompted the usual debate over cost recovery and emissions, without major scandal attached to the brand.
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Brands Owned by WEC Energy Group, Inc.
Energy UtilitiesMichigan Gas Utilities
Owned by WEC Energy Group, Inc.
Natural gas utility serving nearly 188,000 customers in southern Michigan, a subsidiary of WEC Energy Group headquartered in Monroe, Michigan.
utilitiesnatural-gasmichigan
Energy UtilitiesMinnesota Energy Resources
Owned by WEC Energy Group, Inc.
Natural gas utility delivering service to more than 256,000 customers across 179 Minnesota communities, a subsidiary of WEC Energy Group.
utilitiesnatural-gasminnesota
Energy UtilitiesNorth Shore Gas
Owned by WEC Energy Group, Inc.
Natural gas utility serving approximately 166,000 customers in Chicago's northern suburbs, a sister company of Peoples Gas under WEC Energy Group.
utilitiesnatural-gaschicago-suburbs
Energy UtilitiesPeoples Gas
Owned by WEC Energy Group, Inc.
Chicago's natural gas utility, delivering gas to approximately 898,000 city customers as a subsidiary of WEC Energy Group.
utilitiesnatural-gaschicago
Energy UtilitiesUpper Michigan Energy Resources
Owned by WEC Energy Group, Inc.
Michigan-regulated electric and natural gas utility serving about 43,000 customers in the Upper Peninsula, formed in 2017 as a WEC Energy Group subsidiary.
utilitieselectricitynatural-gas
Energy UtilitiesWe Energies
Owned by WEC Energy Group, Inc.
Wisconsin's largest electric and natural gas utility, serving more than 2.3 million customers and operating as the flagship utility brand of WEC Energy Group.
utilitieselectricitynatural-gas
Wisconsin Public Service Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Wholly owned by a financially stable S&P 500 parent
- +Long regional presence dating to 1883
- +Shared WEC resources for generation and grid investment
Considerations
- -Rates set by regulators, not market forces
- -Rural service territory raises per-customer delivery costs
- -Transition away from coal requires sustained capital investment
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Frequently Asked Questions About Wisconsin Public Service
Sources & Further Reading
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Competitors to Wisconsin Public Service
These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.
| Brand | Parent Company | Country | Founded | Market Position | Primary Market | Gender Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wec Energy Group | USA | 1896 | Mass market | United states | All Genders | |
| Iberdrola | USA | 2015 | Mass market | United states | Unisex | |
| Exelon | USA | 1816 | Mass market | United states | All-ages | |
| Exelon | United States | 1909 | Mass market | United states | All Genders | |
| Ppl Corporation | USA | 1913 | Mass market | United states | All Genders | |
| Exelon | USA | 1881 | Mass market | United states | All Genders |
Learn More About Competitors
Energy UtilitiesWe Energies
Owned by WEC Energy Group, Inc.
Wisconsin's largest electric and natural gas utility, serving more than 2.3 million customers and operating as the flagship utility brand of WEC Energy Group.
utilitieselectricitynatural-gas
Energy UtilitiesAvangrid
Owned by Iberdrola
US-based energy company providing electricity and natural gas services to millions of customers across multiple states, owned by Spanish utility Iberdrola.
energyelectricitynatural-gas
Energy UtilitiesBaltimore Gas and Electric
Owned by Exelon Corporation
Maryland-based electric and natural gas utility founded in 1816 and owned by Exelon Corporation. BGE serves over 1.25 million electric customers and 650,000 natural gas customers across central Maryland.
electricitynatural-gasutilities
Energy UtilitiesDelmarva Power
Owned by Exelon Corporation
Delaware and Maryland-based electric and natural gas utility company serving approximately 515,000 electric and 130,000 natural gas customers, owned by Exelon Corporation.
electricitynatural-gasutilities
Energy UtilitiesLouisville Gas and Electric
Owned by PPL Corporation
Kentucky's oldest utility, providing electric and natural gas service to the Louisville area since the 19th century as a subsidiary of PPL Corporation.
utilitieselectricitynatural-gas
Energy UtilitiesPECO Energy Company
Owned by Exelon Corporation
Pennsylvania electric and natural gas utility serving 1.7 million electric and 600,000 gas customers in southeastern Pennsylvania, owned by Exelon Corporation.
electricitynatural-gasutilities
Competitive Analysis
Market Positioning: Wisconsin Public Service competes with 6 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.
Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.
Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.
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Independent Alternatives to Wisconsin Public Service
Looking for brands with different ownership structures? These similar brands are not owned by WEC Energy Group, Inc., giving you alternative choices that support different corporate structures.
Energy UtilitiesAdani Power
Owned by Adani Group
India's largest private thermal power producer, operating approximately 17,550 megawatts of installed capacity across eight states, listed on NSE and BSE.
power-generationenergythermal-power
Privately Owned
Adani Power is privately owned, unlike Wisconsin Public Service which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Energy UtilitiesAdani Green Energy
Owned by Adani Group
Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL) is India's largest renewable energy company by installed capacity, listed on the National Stock Exchange and BSE. It develops, builds, and operates solar and wind power plants across India.
renewable-energysolarwind
Privately Owned
Adani Green Energy is privately owned, unlike Wisconsin Public Service which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Energy UtilitiesCenex
Owned by CHS Inc.
American fuel, lubricant, and convenience store brand owned by CHS Inc., the nation's largest farmer-owned cooperative, operating roughly 1,400 locations across 19 states.
fuelgas-stationsconvenience-stores
Privately Owned
Cenex is privately owned, unlike Wisconsin Public Service which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Energy UtilitiesCMS Energy
Owned by CMS Energy
American energy company providing electricity and natural gas utility services to Michigan residents through Consumers Energy subsidiary.
energy-utilityelectricitynatural-gas
Publicly Traded
CMS Energy operates independently without a large parent corporation.
Energy UtilitiesCon Edison
Owned by Consolidated Edison, Inc.
Consumer-facing brand of Consolidated Edison, Inc., the regulated utility delivering electricity, gas, and steam to New York City and Westchester County.
utilityelectricitynatural-gas
Publicly Traded
Con Edison operates independently without a large parent corporation.
Energy UtilitiesDTE Energy
Owned by DTE Energy Company
Master brand of DTE Energy Company, the Detroit-based NYSE-listed utility serving millions of Michigan customers through DTE Electric and DTE Gas.
utilityelectricitynatural-gas
Publicly Traded
DTE Energy operates independently without a large parent corporation.
WEC Energy Group, Inc. Stock Information
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Jobs at WEC Energy Group, Inc.
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