Wander, Wonder, Work: An Epic Tour Option 1 - Earth, Wind, and Sun: Epic Energy Systems [Sold Out]

BUS TOUR - Tour departs at approximately 8 a.m. and will return around 12:15 p.m.

If you’re familiar with MyChart, chances are you’re one of the more than 325 million patients worldwide who have a current electronic medical record in Epic. Founded in a basement by UW-Madison graduate student Judy Faulkner in 1979, Epic Systems is located about 10 miles southwest of Madison and currently employs approximately 14,000 people.

The electronic records giant’s Intergalactic Headquarters is a destination in itself. The1,670-acre facility includes a one-of-a-kind art collection and six creatively themed campuses reminiscent of childhood daydreams--favorite storybooks, outer space, wizards, a working farm, a treehouse, and more. Although these playful environments inspire whimsy, the Epic campus is seriously intentional in its design and function, incorporating sophisticated infrastructure to support the development and deployment of advanced software solutions.

Earth, Wind, and Sun: Epic Energy Systems
The campus produces both wind and solar power and relies on one of the largest geothermal systems in the world to heat and cool its buildings. On this tour track, learn more about the innovative technologies and systems that create sustainability, reliability, and cost savings at Epic.

Wander, Wonder, Work: An Epic Tour Option 2 - Intentionally Imaginative: Epic Campus Design [Sold Out]

BUS TOUR - Tour departs at approximately 8 a.m. and will return around 12:15 p.m.

If you’re familiar with MyChart, chances are you’re one of the more than 325 million patients worldwide who have a current electronic medical record in Epic. Founded in a basement by UW-Madison graduate student Judy Faulkner in 1979, Epic Systems is located about 10 miles southwest of Madison and currently employs approximately 14,000 people.

The electronic records giant’s Intergalactic Headquarters is a destination in itself. The1,670-acre facility includes a one-of-a-kind art collection and six creatively themed campuses reminiscent of childhood daydreams--favorite storybooks, outer space, wizards, a working farm, a treehouse, and more. Although these playful environments inspire whimsy, the Epic campus is seriously intentional in its design and function, incorporating sophisticated infrastructure to support the development and deployment of advanced software solutions.

Intentionally Imaginative: Epic Campus Design The campus isn’t just visually distinctive; it’s purposefully planned to support focused work, spark collaboration, and create a sense of community. On this tour track, learn more about Epic’s approach to workspace design, and how it reflects a core company belief: when people have the right environment, they do their best work.

On Sacred Ground: First Nations Cultural Landscape Tour [Sold Out]

WALKING TOUR - Tour departs at approximately 8:30 a.m. and will return around 12 p.m. Participants should be prepared to walk or otherwise travel up to two miles.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison occupies ancestral Ho-Chunk land in a special place called Teejop (four lakes). For more than 20 years, the First Nations Cultural Landscape Tour has led group walks to share stories and evocative experiences of the past and present Indigeneity of Teejop. Along the beautiful shores of Tee Waaksikhomik (Lake Mendota), this resonant tour engages with land, water, buildings, historical markers, and archaeological sites through an Indigenous perspective, facilitates discussions about historic and contemporary relationships with First Nations, and fosters reflection on our generational responsibilities. This walking tour begins and ends at the historic Memorial Union and incorporates various terrain such as stairs and inclines in elevation.

Just Come Along With Me: The Wisconsin Idea in Action [1 remaining]

WALKING TOUR - Tour departs at approximately 8:30 a.m. and will return around 12:15 p.m.

The University of Wisconsin–Madison has long been defined by the Wisconsin Idea — the principle that the university's work should benefit all people in Wisconsin, not just those within its walls—often summarized as, “the boundaries of the campus are the boundaries of the state.” Today this is especially visible in UW's commitment to energy innovation and developing a cleaner energy future. This tour offers an inside look at some of the cutting-edge research and interdisciplinary collaborations taking place, and a few of the sustainable, state-of-the-art facilities bringing these commitments to life.

Tour highlights include the University of Wisconsin Nuclear Reactor, Pegasus III Nuclear Fusion Project, Wisconsin Energy Institute, Morgridge Hall, and the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery. For information on each tour stop, view the full tour description on the MARC website.

Power Trip: Dane County Energy Innovation Tour [Sold Out]

BUS TOUR - Tour departs at approximately 8 a.m. and will return around 12 p.m.

Prefer to sit back and let someone else do the driving? This is the tour for you! Wisconsin’s successful statewide energy efficiency and renewable energy program, Focus on Energy (FOCUS), is celebrating 25 years of helping Wisconsin residents, businesses, schools, farms, and communities save energy and reduce costs. This tour will showcase several unique examples of projects funded by FOCUS and the PSC’s Energy Innovation Grant Program that highlight the importance of innovation, collaboration, and robust funding opportunities. The tour will also include longer stops at the pristine Holy Wisdom Monastery and additional locations featuring renewable energy and energy storage installations.

Shear Energy: Solar and Agrivoltaics Tour [Sold Out]

BUS TOUR - Tour departs at approximately 8:30 a.m. and will return around 12 p.m.

Come see what the buzzzz is about! As renewable energy adoption becomes more widespread, interest in agrivoltaics—the use of land for both agriculture and solar energy generation—has grown in tandem. This tour will visit two solar energy generation sites in Fitchburg that integrate agrivoltaics into their operations, demonstrating the benefits of this unique co-location. Tyto Solar is home to a grazing flock of sheep that help control ground cover during the growing season, maintaining grass and brush in a sustainable way. O’Brien Solar incorporates pollinator plantings that support a small apiary (beehives). Visitors will see the sites in action and learn about the innovative rate programs utilizing these solar generation projects.

Closed toe shoes (any type) are required for this tour. Long sleeves and trousers are recommended as there will be taller vegetation and insects on the sites.

Under the Dome: Touring Wisconsin's State Capitol [Sold Out]

WALKING TOUR - Tour departs at 8:30 a.m. and will return around 10:30 a.m.

Need a break from all the energy and utility talk? Wander up the street and into one of the most magnificent state capitols in the country! Located in the heart of downtown Madison, the Capitol is the seat of state government and the city’s most recognizable landmark. Offering beautiful mosaics, towering marble columns, and a soaring rotunda, each space is rich with art, symbolism, and stories of Wisconsin’s past and present. No visit to Madison is complete without a Capitol tour!

Leveraging Financial Tools to Lower Energy Bills [40 remaining]

PLEASE NOTE: This workshop is a closed session and is only open to commissioners, commission staff, and consumer advocates.

Session begins at approximately 12:30 p.m. and ends at approximately 4:30 p.m. (exact times will be sent to registered attendees).

Sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) and the Citizens' Utility Board (CUB)

Rising electricity costs are placing increasing pressure on households. More than a quarter of customer bills reflect financing costs alone, and with the industry expected to invest over a trillion dollars by 2030, commissions are confronting a critical question: how can financial decisions within regulatory control be used to meet affordability needs and address load growth, all while maintaining utility financial integrity?

This session will examine how commissions can leverage financial tools to counterbalance rising energy costs. Through an interactive, facilitated discussion, participants will explore real-world examples and consider how these approaches can be adapted to different state contexts.

Topics will include the distinction between cost of equity (COE) and return on equity (ROE), the impact of debt-to-equity ratios, approaches to reforming how ROE is set, the implications for credit ratings and customer bills, and the role of securitization and other financing strategies. Commissioners will hear directly from peers and technical experts on how these tools have been applied in practice and the tradeoffs involved.

Attendees will leave with concrete strategies to better evaluate utility financial decisions, improve affordability outcomes, and more effectively navigate complex financial issues in regulatory proceedings.

PLEASE NOTE: This workshop is a closed session and is only open to commissioners, commission staff, and consumer advocates.