LANSING — Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is moving to block DTE Energy’s latest attempt to raise natural gas rates, arguing the utility continues to push unjustified costs onto customers who are already strained by rising household expenses.

DTE has filed a request with the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) seeking to increase natural gas rates by 9.83% for all customers and 7.81% for residential users. The proposed hike would generate $237.5 million annually, which DTE says it needs to offset a projected revenue deficiency for the year ending Sept. 30, 2027.

Nessel announced her intervention just one day after the filing, signaling another aggressive challenge to the utility’s rate practices.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel

Nessel: DTE Continues Pattern of Unjustified Costs

The Attorney General said the request follows a familiar pattern in which DTE attempts to pass questionable expenses onto customers.

“This new rate hike request will be filled with costs that simply cannot be justified,” Nessel said. “We’ve seen DTE repeatedly try to pass millions in unnecessary expenses onto its customers, including private jet travel for executives. My office will scrutinize every dollar to ensure Michigan families aren’t paying more just to pad corporate profits.”

History of Rate Hike Challenges

DTE regularly seeks rate increases to cover infrastructure upgrades, maintenance, and operational expenses. Nessel has consistently pushed back, arguing the utility inflates customer costs despite strong profits.

Her interventions have saved Michigan customers tens of millions of dollars over the past several years. In 2024, her office successfully reduced DTE’s requested gas rate hike by 60%, one of the largest cuts she has secured.

What Customers Could Pay

If approved, DTE’s proposal would raise the average residential customer’s monthly natural gas bill by about $6.16.

DTE serves 1.3 million natural gas customers statewide and provides electricity to 2.2 million customers in Southeast Michigan, meaning proposed increases have broad financial impact across the state.

What Happens Next

The MPSC will begin a months-long review process, including testimony, public comments, and legal arguments. Nessel’s office plans to contest any spending it believes is excessive or unrelated to customer benefit.

Nessel said Michigan families should not face “a ceaseless march of rate increases” from utilities that operate as guaranteed-profit monopolies.