EXHIBIT 5.3

                               Quarles & Brady LLP
                            411 East Wisconsin Avenue
                         Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202-4497
                             Telephone: 414-277-5000
                                Fax: 414-271-3552

                                           March 19, 2003

Wisconsin Energy Corporation
231 West Michigan Street
Milwaukee, WI 53203

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     We are providing this opinion in connection with (a) the registration under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to the Registration Statement
on Form S-3 (File No. 333-69592), which was declared effective on September 28,
2001 (the "Registration Statement"), of up to $500 million of the securities of
Wisconsin Energy Corporation, a Wisconsin corporation (the "Company"), and (b)
the authorization and issuance by the Company of $200 million aggregate
principal amount of the Company's 6.20% Senior Notes due April 1, 2033 (the
"Notes") under an Indenture, dated as of March 15, 1999 (the "Indenture"),
between the Company and Bank One Trust Company, National Association (successor
to the First National Bank of Chicago), as trustee (the "Trustee"), and
Securities Resolution No. 4 under the Indenture.

     We have examined (i) the Registration Statement; (ii) the Company's
Restated Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, as amended to date; (iii) the
Indenture; (iv) the form of the Notes; (v) Securities Resolution No. 4
establishing the terms of the Notes; (vi) the Underwriting Agreement, dated
March 17, 2003 (the "Underwriting Agreement"), between the Company and the
several Underwriters named in Schedule A thereto providing for the issuance and
sale of the Notes to the Underwriters; (vii) resolutions of the Board of
Directors of the Company; and (viii) such other documents, and such matters of
law, as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this
opinion. Upon the basis of that examination, we advise you that, in our opinion:

     1. The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
Company and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Company,
enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to the
effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization,
moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights
generally, general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in
equity or at law) and an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.

     2. The Notes have been duly authorized by the Company and (assuming due
authentication thereof by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of the
Indenture), when



Wisconsin Energy Corporation
Page 2
March 19, 2003

executed and delivered pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement for the
consideration provided therein, will have been duly executed, issued and
delivered by the Company and will constitute valid and binding obligations of
the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms,
subject to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance,
reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting
creditors' rights generally, general equitable principles (whether considered in
a proceeding in equity or at law) and an implied covenant of good faith and fair
dealing, and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.

     We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to Post-Effective
Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement.

                                                  Very truly yours,


                                                  /s/ Quarles & Brady LLP
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                                                  QUARLES & BRADY LLP