ITEM 8.01 OTHER EVENTS
On June 23, 2022, Wisconsin Electric Power Company ("WE"), a wholly-owned
subsidiary of WEC Energy Group, Inc. (the "Company"), issued a news release
announcing plans to extend the operating lives of the four older units at its
Oak Creek site. This will delay the planned retirement of Units 5 and 6 by one
year, until May 2024, and of Units 7 and 8 by approximately 18 months, until
late in 2025. We do not anticipate that any significant, new capital investments
will be required to keep the units in operation during this time.
A copy of the news release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is
incorporated herein by reference.
In addition, Wisconsin Power & Light Company, which operates the Columbia Energy
Center, now plans to retire the two Columbia units by June 1, 2026. Original
plans called for these units to be retired at the end of 2023 and 2024.
Wisconsin Public Service Corporation ("WPS"), an indirect wholly-owned
subsidiary of the Company, owns approximately 300 MW (27.5%) of the Columbia
Energy Center units' capacity.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this Current Report on Form 8-K are
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities
Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These
statements are based upon management's current expectations and are subject to
risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those contemplated in the statements. Readers are cautioned not to place
undue reliance on these statements. Forward-looking statements include, among
other things, statements concerning management's expectations and projections
regarding regional generating capacity, retirement of generating units,
renewable energy projects, and emission reduction goals. In some cases, forward
looking statements may be identified by reference to a future period or periods
or by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "anticipates," "believes,"
"estimates," "expects," "forecasts," "guidance," "intends," "may," "objectives,"
"plans," "possible," "potential," "projects," "should," "targets," "will" or
similar terms or variations of these terms.
The following factors, in addition to those discussed in each of WEC Energy
Group, Inc.'s, WE's, and WPS' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2021 and in subsequent reports filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, could cause actual results to differ materially from those
contemplated in any forward-looking statements: general economic conditions,
including business and competitive conditions in the company's service
territories; the timing, resolution and impact of rate cases and other
regulatory decisions; availability of generating facilities and/or distribution
systems; significant differences in forecasted generating capacity in the
Midwest region and decisions by MISO affecting plant retirements; the ability of
the company to obtain additional generating capacity at competitive prices;
unanticipated changes in fuel and purchased power costs; the company's ability
to continue to successfully integrate the operations of its subsidiaries; key
personnel changes; varying, adverse or unusually severe weather conditions;
continued industry restructuring and consolidation; continued advances in, and
adoption of, new technologies that produce power or reduce power consumption;
energy and environmental conservation efforts; the company's ability to
successfully acquire and/or dispose of assets and to execute on its capital
plan; cyber-security threats and data security breaches; construction risks;
equity and bond market fluctuations; changes in the company's and its
subsidiaries' ability to access the capital markets; changes in tax legislation
or the company's ability to use certain tax benefits and carryforwards; federal,
state and/or local legislative and regulatory changes, including changes to
environmental standards and greenhouse gas regulations, the enforcement of these
laws and the regulations and changes in the interpretation by regulatory
agencies; supply chain disruptions; inflation; political and geopolitical
developments; the impact from new developments relating to the COVID-19 pandemic
or any future health pandemics; the impact on the
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global economy, supply chains and fuel prices from the ongoing conflict between
Russia and Ukraine; current and future litigation and regulatory investigations,
proceedings or inquiries; changes in accounting standards; and the financial
performance of the American Transmission Company as well as projects in which
the company's energy infrastructure business invests. Except as may be required
by law, WEC Energy Group, Inc., WE, and WPS expressly disclaim any obligation to
publicly update or revise any forward-looking information.
ITEM 9.01 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
(d) Exhibits
Exhibit
99.1 News Release Issued June 23, 2022, announcing delay of planned
retirement of Oak Creek Units
104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL
document).
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