Great Lakes Wire

Today, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel reaffirmed her commitment to representing Michigan utility ratepayers in every rate case before the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC). This comes as Consumers Energy announced a new request for an electric rate hike, just seven days after their latest rate increase was approved and a week before it is set to take effect on April 4.

Utility companies can file rate hike requests only once every 12 months, timed from the date of their application. Consumers Energy's recent announcement falls 364 days after their last rate hike case filing, with the new application set for June 2, exactly 366 days following their previous application.

Nessel commented, "By allowing Consumers Energy and DTE to file a new rate hike every twelve months, the State is allowing these billion-dollar businesses to ask for more and more before anyone can even gauge the impact of the previous rate hike.”

Consumers Energy has not disclosed how much more they plan to charge customers with the forthcoming rate hike request. In previous cases, their requests aimed to increase residential electric rates by 8.2% in 2024 and nearly 5% in 2023. A summary of the new rate hike request is expected ahead of the formal application, projected for June.

Nessel continued, "Consumers Energy just got the green-light to raise electric rates, and one week later they’re back with their hands out before putting any of their new earnings to work for their customers.” She promised that her office will continue to "hold Consumers Energy and DTE accountable before the Commission​."

Earlier in January, the MPSC allowed DTE, another utility company, to charge electric customers an additional $217 million annually. Through Nessel's efforts, this rate hike was reduced by half. DTE plans to file another electric rate hike request soon, and Consumers Energy has an open natural gas rate hike request pending.

The Attorney General's interventions have saved Michigan consumers over $3.7 billion in utility cases. Consumers Energy provides electricity to about 1.9 million customers and natural gas to 1.8 million customers in Michigan.