Lansing, Michigan – Michigan’s battle for fair utility rates heated up this week when Attorney General Dana Nessel announced that she will intervene in an additional rate increase application from DTE Energy, a Detroit-based utility.
DTE’s announcement came just after it suggested an 11% increase in residential electric bills, or an additional $574 million per year.
DTE’s action comes on the heels of a $217 million rate increase approved only three months ago, which has sparked concerns and dissatisfaction among Michigan residents about rising utility costs and service quality.
Attorney General Nessel stated that she strongly opposed what she saw as an unfair burden on Michigan’s ratepayers.
“Just three months after the MPSC approved a $217 million rate hike, DTE is already back, asking for nearly $600 million more from ratepayers still very dissatisfied with the quality of service they receive,” Nessel told the press.
She emphasized her commitment to ensuring that proposed rate increases are not inflated or unreasonable, and that they do not primarily benefit corporate executives and shareholders at the expense of consumers.
In her strong criticism of the rate plan, Nessel emphasized her office’s important track record of representing Michigan consumers in utility issues. Her efforts have reportedly saved Michigan residents more than $3.7 billion.
Nessel only recently testified before the MPSC, arguing for a nearly 70% reduction in Consumers Energy Company’s separate $248 million rate increase request for natural gas services.
As debates over utility prices and service quality heat up, DTE Energy, which provides natural gas to 1.3 million and electricity to approximately two million customers in Southeast Michigan, comes under increasing scrutiny from the public and regulatory officials.
The Michigan Public Service Commission, which is in charge of monitoring utility services and rate changes, will review DTE’s most recent submission in the coming months. During this review process, DTE’s financial explanations for the proposed rate increase will be thoroughly examined, as will public input and expert testimony, including that of the Attorney General’s office.
Michigan citizens and ratepayers are invited to participate in the public comment process as the case progresses, allowing them to express their concerns and influence the final decision on DTE’s proposed rate increase.
This never-ending story highlights the delicate balance between ensuring utility business survival and protecting consumers from an undue financial burden in the face of rising energy prices.
