Great Lakes Wire

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has urged the Michigan Public Service Commission to disallow the recovery of nearly $18 million in excess natural gas costs billed by DTE Gas Company and DTE Electric Company to its customers. Nessel stated, "It has become increasingly clear that the phantom savings DTE promised its customers when it struck a deal with NEXUS are never going to happen." She emphasized the need to reconsider the practice of allowing ratepayer bailouts that only serve to enrich a former DTE affiliate.

According to Nessel, DTE Gas and DTE Electric have overcharged their customers by over $80 million due to their arrangement with NEXUS since its operation began in November 2018. The Attorney General has requested the Commission to disallow the recovery of $17.6 million in excess costs and ordered the two DTE subsidiaries to return that total amount to DTE bill-payers.

The Attorney General highlighted the importance of holding DTE accountable to minimize fuel costs for customers and alleviate the utility cost burden on Michigan ratepayers. Nessel's intervention in utility cases before the MPSC has already saved Michigan consumers over $3 billion, demonstrating her commitment to affordable energy for consumers.

DTE, which sells natural gas to 1.3 million customers across the state and electricity to approximately 2.2 million customers in Southeast Michigan, has been under scrutiny for unjustifiable costs and rate hikes. AG Nessel's efforts have resulted in keeping unjustifiable costs off the bills of DTE natural gas customers, intervening in rate cases, and filing comments critical of DTE's Distribution Plan.

The Attorney General's actions aim to protect Michigan ratepayers from unnecessary financial burdens and ensure transparency and fairness in utility costs.