Our Legacy of Victory
Wisconsin Reliability Act and Creation of Focus on Energy
Passed in 1999, Wisconsin Reliability Act boosted support for clean energy and energy efficiency initiatives in several ways. The most notable of those was the creation of Focus on Energy, a statewide program that helps Wisconsin residents and businesses save money on energy efficiency upgrades through discounted products, rebate programs, and more. Clean Wisconsin directly helped shape the Focus on Energy program, which has since become a model for similar programs around the country.
The act also created a 2% clean energy requirement of all state utilities and prevented their deregulation at a time when many other states were moving to deregulate their utility industries. By preventing deregulation, state leaders ensured the Public Service Commission would maintain its ability to approve or deny changes in utilities’ energy rates with the goal of helping keep prices affordable for customers.
Why It Matters
To this day, Focus on Energy provides significant energy and cost savings for Wisconsinites. From energy assessment programs to help with installing solar at home, the program’s offerings have only grown in the decades since it was created. The program also allowed Wisconsin to launch a pair of home rebate programs funded by $149 million in federal funds from the Inflation Reduction Act before the IRA was repealed at the federal level.
