Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has reiterated her commitment to defending ratepayers as Consumers Energy prepares to seek another increase in natural gas rates. The announcement follows a filing by Consumers Energy with the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) on October 16, indicating its intention to request a new rate hike in December.
Under MPSC rules, utilities must provide at least 60 days’ notice before submitting a formal request for a rate increase. The latest filing from Consumers Energy comes shortly after the MPSC approved a $157.5 million natural gas rate hike for the company.
The exact amount Consumers Energy will request in the upcoming case is not yet known. In its previous application, the utility sought a $248 million increase, which would have raised residential rates by 12%. A summary of the new request is expected prior to the official application in December.
“Michigan families are doing everything they can to manage rising costs, and they shouldn’t have to brace for rate hike after rate hike from DTE and Consumers Energy,” Nessel said. “We cannot keep allowing these utilities to treat these hikes as business as usual while their customers struggle to pay their bills. My office will scrutinize this upcoming rate hike request for unreasonable or unsupported costs, just as we do in every major case, and just like every other time we’ve done so, I am sure we will uncover millions in indefensible costs. Michigan’s utility corporations must be held accountable to their customers as they seek these incessant rate hikes.”
Past requests from DTE and Consumers Energy have included costs such as private jet travel for executives and other expenses that were not shown to be reasonable or necessary. Current cases before the MPSC include DTE’s electric rate hike (U-21860) and Consumers Energy’s electric rate hike (U-21870). DTE has also announced plans to file an application next week for another natural gas rate increase.
