DETROIT – DTE Energy submitted a request with state regulators Thursday, Nov. 13 to hike rates by a net total of about $163 million for its 1.3 million customers, according to the utility’s filings.
If granted in full, the increase would boost rates about 8 percent for residential customers. That means a customer with average usage would see a $6.16 increase to their monthly bill.
A jump that large is unlikely, as regulators frequently trim utility requests after scrutiny from business groups, environmental organizations and consumer watchdogs during a 10-month legal process called a rate case, held before the Michigan Public Service Commission.
New gas rates would go into effect no earlier than October 2026.
“Natural gas plays a vital role in everyday life – from heating homes to cooking meals,” said DTE Gas President and Chief Operating Officer Bob Richard in a statement. “This request allows us to continue investing in the safety and reliability of our system, while keeping costs low for the customers who depend on us for generations to come.”
Advocates have already signaled their intent to challenge aspects of the request.
“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,” said Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel in a statement issued the week before the filing.
“We cannot keep allowing these utilities to treat these hikes as business as usual while their customers struggle to pay their bills,” she said, pledging that her office would vet the request for unreasonable costs, as it regularly does for the state’s largest utilities.
While DTE has maintained a recent cycle of near-yearly requests to increase electric rates, its natural gas requests have come less frequently. Utilities can make a request with regulators once every 12 months under the law.
DTE’s gas rates last rose by nearly $116 million in November 2024, following a request it initiated in January 2024.
The current requested increase for residential rates is about three and a half times higher than what was approved last time, said Amy Bandyk, executive director of the nonprofit Citizens Utility Board of Michigan, which advocates for residential customers.
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