<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0305</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-03-28</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000783325</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WISCONSIN ENERGY CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WEC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001518013</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Garvin Robert M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>231 WEST MICHIGAN STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MILWAUKEE,</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>53203</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Senior Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-03-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4.7678</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>34.92</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4.7678</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>17.6897</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-03-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4.7686</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>34.92</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4.7686</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>22.4583</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">One-for-one.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These phantom stock units were accrued under the Wisconsin Energy Corporation Executive Deferred Compensation Plan (&quot;EDCP&quot;) and will be settled effective January 1, 2021, as elected by the reporting person at the time of the deferral.  The reporting person may transfer these phantom stock units into an alternative investment account at any time.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">These phantom stock units were accrued under the EDCP and are to be settled following the reporting person's retirement or other termination of employment.  The reporting person may transfer these phantom stock units into an alternative investment account at any time.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Includes phantom stock units accrued pursuant to a dividend reinvestment feature of the EDCP in transactions exempt from Section 16 pursuant to Rule 16a-11.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Joshua M. Erickson, as Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-03-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0305
4
2012-03-28
0000783325
WISCONSIN ENERGY CORP
WEC
0001518013
Garvin Robert M
231 WEST MICHIGAN STREET
MILWAUKEE,
WI
53203
0
1
0
0
Senior Vice President
Phantom Stock Units
2012-03-28
4
A
0
4.7678
34.92
A
Common Stock
4.7678
17.6897
D
Phantom Stock Units
2012-03-28
4
A
0
4.7686
34.92
A
Common Stock
4.7686
22.4583
D
One-for-one.
These phantom stock units were accrued under the Wisconsin Energy Corporation Executive Deferred Compensation Plan ("EDCP") and will be settled effective January 1, 2021, as elected by the reporting person at the time of the deferral.  The reporting person may transfer these phantom stock units into an alternative investment account at any time.
These phantom stock units were accrued under the EDCP and are to be settled following the reporting person's retirement or other termination of employment.  The reporting person may transfer these phantom stock units into an alternative investment account at any time.
Includes phantom stock units accrued pursuant to a dividend reinvestment feature of the EDCP in transactions exempt from Section 16 pursuant to Rule 16a-11.
Joshua M. Erickson, as Attorney-in-Fact
2012-03-30