WEC Energy(US:WEC)2026-02-05 20:02Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported adjusted earnings of $5.27 per share for 2025, an increase of $0.39 per share compared to 2024 adjusted earnings [3][15] - Weather positively impacted utility earnings by approximately $0.35 relative to last year, with a favorable impact of $0.10 in 2025 compared to a $0.25 unfavorable impact in 2024 [15][16] - The company expects long-term earnings per share growth of 7%-8% annually from 2026 to 2030, with acceleration to the upper half of the range starting in 2028 [9][22] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Adjusted earnings from utility operations increased by $0.63 in 2025 compared to 2024, driven by rate-based growth and weather impacts [15] - Earnings from the American Transmission Company increased by $0.02 due to continued capital investment [17] - The energy infrastructure segment saw a $0.10 increase in earnings from higher production tax credits associated with solar generation projects [17] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Retail electric deliveries in Wisconsin increased by 1.1% year-over-year, with projections for 2026 indicating a growth of 1.6% from 2025 levels [16] - The company is projecting a total of 3.9 gigawatts of electric demand growth in its five-year plan, driven by expansions from Microsoft and Vantage Data Centers [8][21] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on executing a $37.5 billion capital plan over the next five years to meet growing energy needs [9][10] - Investments include $7.4 billion in natural gas generation and LNG storage, and $12.6 billion in renewable energy projects [10] - The company aims to maintain a reliable generation mix while expanding its renewable energy capacity [9] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the ability to execute the capital plan and continue growth, citing strong economic growth in the region [4][22] - The company is addressing regulatory matters, including a proposed settlement in Illinois that would resolve several pending cases [12][20] - Management highlighted the importance of transparency and community engagement in attracting new customers, particularly in the data center sector [43] Other Important Information - The board increased the dividend by 6.7% to an annualized $3.81 per share, marking the 23rd consecutive year of dividend increases [20] - The company plans to issue between $900 million and $1.1 billion of common equity in 2026 [19] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you elaborate on the 500 megawatts related to Microsoft and the additional capital expenditures? - Management indicated that Microsoft is expanding its data center operations, which is expected to add 500 MW of customer demand and $1 billion to the capital plan [24][25] Question: Are there other hyperscaler customers showing interest? - Management confirmed ongoing discussions with other potential customers and emphasized the importance of transparency in addressing community concerns [41][43] Question: What is the status of the very large customer tariff and general rate case? - Management stated that the tariff is undergoing a thorough vetting process and that the general rate case filing is on track for April [55][56] Question: How will the Microsoft ramp impact customer rates? - Management noted that as data center activity increases, it could lead to a reduction in the burden on other customers, but quantifying this impact will take time [74][90] Question: What are the plans for replacing the Point Beach PPA? - Management indicated that they are evaluating options for replacement generation and are confident in their ability to meet future energy needs [80][81]