Wisconsin Energy formed We Power in 2001 to help meet the future energy needs of its electric utility customers. We will design, build and own the power plants that are part of the corporation's Power the Future plan.

We Power is a separate subsidiary of Wisconsin Energy. We are not a utility. We build and own generating units that are leased to We Energies, the utility that operates and maintains the plants.

Our approach enables We Power to finance plants in the same manner as independent power producers. Customers and investors have financial certainty for the full term of the long-term leases, instead of the uncertainty associated with the utility's biennial rate case process. Another benefit of this approach is that it allows the utility to remain focused on the day-to-day business of providing safe and reliable service to customers without the distraction of these major construction projects.

Projects
The first of two 545-megawatt, combined-cycle, natural-gas-fueled units at the existing Port Washington Power Plant site achieved commerical operation on July 16, 2005. Construction began on June 29, 2005 for two 615-megawatt coal-fueled generating units at the existing Oak Creek Power Plant site. As the largest private construction project in state history, more than 1,500 new construction jobs will be created at the peak of construction.