COMMON EQUITY (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]

Schedule of stock-based compensation expense and related deferred tax benefit recognized in income

The following table summarizes our pre-tax stock-based compensation expense, including amounts allocated from WBS, and the related tax benefit recognized in income for the years ended December 31:

(in millions)	2019		2018		2017
Stock options	$	0.8	$	0.9	$	0.6
Restricted stock	1.2		1.7		0.7
Performance units	7.4		3.6		3.3
Stock-based compensation expense	$	9.4	$	6.2	$	4.6
Related tax benefit	$	2.6	$	1.7	$	1.8

Schedule of stock option activity

The following is a summary of our employees' WEC Energy Group stock option activity during 2019:

Stock Options	Number of Options		Weighted-Average Exercise Price		Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life (in years)	Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in millions)
Outstanding as of January 1, 2019	71,015		$	59.70
Granted	21,638		$	68.18
Exercised	(19,955	)	$	55.36
Outstanding as of December 31, 2019	72,698		$	63.41	7.9	$	2.1
Exercisable as of December 31, 2019	8,165		$	57.99	6.7	$	0.3

Schedule of restricted stock activity

The following is a summary of our employees' WEC Energy Group restricted stock activity during 2019:

Restricted Shares	Number of Shares		Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value
Outstanding and unvested as of January 1, 2019	7,425		$	58.45
Granted	1,889		$	68.18
Released	(5,288	)	$	56.99
Forfeited	(132	)	$	55.48
Outstanding and unvested as of December 31, 2019	3,894		$	65.24