LANSING — The Michigan Public Service Commission has approved a natural gas rate hike for Consumers Energy, allowing the company to collect an additional $157.5 million from ratepayers.
This increase is 37% lower than the original $248 million request, yet it exceeds recommendations from the Department of Attorney General and the MPSC’s Administrative Law Judge.
Attorney General Dana Nessel said she is advocating for a reduction to $76.5 million, intervening in major rate hike cases to support Michigan’s utility customers.
Attorney General Dana Nessel said she is also taking action to protect Michigan utility customers by challenging Consumers Energy’s proposed $436 million electric rate hike.
Nessel has filed testimony with the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) to reduce the hike by nearly 65%, potentially saving ratepayers hundreds of millions. This request marks the largest electric rate increase proposed during Nessel’s tenure and possibly the largest in decades. Nessel is advocating for a reduction to no more than a 3.5% overall increase.