The vote came during the council's budget session, after Alderman Alex Brower led a morning protest inside City Hall against We Energies and in favor of public power. Brower, who sponsored the amendment funding the study, argued that the rate decision by the state Public Service Commission did not go far enough.

"Some people are celebrating this morning, a little bit because the PSC approved a slightly smaller rate hike than what We Energies suggested," Brower said. "Well, what I say to the PSC and to the bureaucrats in Madison is that the only solution is democratic control of our utility."

The Public Service Commission approved the increase on Thursday, a day before the protest and budget vote. We Energies had originally sought a monthly increase of about $13 in 2027 and another $8 to $9 in 2028, saying the money was needed for new energy projects and grid improvements. Regulators scaled back the request, but the final rates are not expected to be set for several weeks, leaving customers unsure of the exact impact on their bills.

Protesters, including members of the Milwaukee Democratic Socialists of America, gathered inside City Hall before moving to the Common Council chambers. They called for a publicly owned electric utility modeled on Milwaukee's city-owned waterworks.

The study funded Friday would assess electric rates, service reliability and the cost of acquiring We Energies' infrastructure within the city, including gas, electric and steam assets.

We Energies spokesperson Brendan Conway pushed back on the proposal, saying the company already works with the city on clean energy and reliability.

"We are already partnering with the city on clean energy, reliability. We're going to continue to focus on that," Conway said. "I think the city choosing to spend $1.3 million on a study is probably not the best use of tax dollars — the limited tax dollars that all cities have — but that will be a decision they'll have to come up with."

The unanimous vote signals broad council interest in exploring municipal ownership, a concept that has gained traction in other cities amid rising utility costs and concerns about private monopolies. Supporters say a city-owned utility could offer more transparency and lower rates, while critics question the expense and complexity of acquiring private infrastructure.

With the study now funded, city officials are expected to begin soliciting proposals from consultants in the coming months. The findings could shape a larger debate over whether Milwaukee should pursue a public takeover of its energy system.