Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said on April 6 that she will continue to intervene in all major rate cases before the Michigan Public Service Commission, following Consumers Energy’s announcement of its intent to seek another electric rate increase. The utility filed a formal notice with the commission on April 3, stating it plans to request a new rate hike “on or after June 2, 2026,” which is the earliest date allowed by current law.
This announcement comes just seven days after the commission approved a $276.6 million electric rate increase for Consumers Energy, set to take effect May 1. Since 2020, nearly $800 million in annual revenue increases have been approved for the company. The most recent approval also allows Consumers Energy a return of 9.9% on equity for new capital projects, including those tied to data center construction.
Nessel criticized the timing and frequency of these requests. “The rate hike just approved by the MPSC hasn’t even taken effect yet, and Consumers Energy is already gearing up to reach back into the pockets of Michigan families,” Nessel said. “Ratepayers don’t have a choice in who they buy their energy from, yet our utility companies still choose to make these relentless and unsustainable rate hike demands year after year. Announcing plans to file what we expect to be a new multi-hundred-million-dollar request just seven days after securing a nearly $280 million hike proves how truly broken this system has become. Ratepayers are trapped in a loop where the demands for more from these massive utilities never end, even as energy prices become unaffordable for working families. My office will continue to scrutinize every penny of this upcoming filing, but intervention alone is no longer enough. It is past time for legislators on both sides of the aisle to come together and fix this broken system for Michiganders.”
Consumers Energy’s previous case sought an increase of $436 million plus an additional surcharge that would have raised household rates by about 13%. A summary document outlining details of this upcoming request is expected prior to their formal application in June.
Recent filings from both DTE and Consumers Energy included costs such as private jet travel and executive compensation incentives not shown as reasonable or prudent expenses. Other pending cases before state regulators include natural gas and electric hikes proposed by multiple utilities across Michigan.
According to the official website, Dana Nessel serves as Michigan’s 54th attorney general and leads an office focused on serving residents through public service initiatives and protections statewide. The department also advances social efforts against human trafficking and supports vulnerable populations according to its official website. In addition, it played a role drafting policies like Michigan’s Clean Slate law offering expungement opportunities according to official sources.
