Microsoft and ATC Face Off Over $600 Million Data Center Power Bill

Microsoft and the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) have joined forces to question American Transmission Co.'s (ATC) plan to bill Microsoft for $600 million of new power infrastructure to serve its Mount Pleasant data center campus. The proposal, submitted in July, is intended to shield energy customers from these costs.

According to an article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, ATC's plan would have We Energies pay the total cost of transmission requested by the data center, and Microsoft would pay back the utility in full. However, both Microsoft and CUB have raised concerns about the agreement, with Microsoft arguing that it doesn't go far enough to protect electric ratepayers and questioning how the costs are allocated.

In an Aug. 21 filing, Microsoft contended that the proposal lacks clarity on how transmission costs are allocated and raised questions about their accuracy. CUB also filed a statement, echoing similar concerns about the lack of transparency in the agreement.