Independent review by the Citizens Research Council largely agrees with state regulators on why Michigan's electric rates remain high—but says policymakers should focus on lowering the cost per kilowatt-hour rather than average monthly bills. LANSING – Ask Michigan homeowners whether electricity has become more expensive and most won't hesitate with the answer. Absolutely. In one
LANSING - The Michigan Public Service Commission today announced it is seeking further input on proposals that would establish financial penalties for utilities that don’t meet thresholds for getting the power back on and incentives for reduced outages and faster restoration of service (Case No U-21400). The Commission’s meeting took place at the LV Eberhard
LANSING - The MPSC’s 2023 Annual Reportv highlights actions the Commission took after a round of ice and snow storms spanning February 22 to March 4 left more than 1 million Michiganders without electricity, some for more than a week, as crews worked to repair more than 13,000 downed wires reported just for the state’s
JACKSON–Consumers Energy announced plans to install 123 new automatic transfer reclosers in 2023 to help prevent power outages and improve electric reliability for customers. The energy provider’s investment in automation is a key part of the company’s overall electric reliability plan that aims to reduce both the number and length of power outages. ATRs are
DETROIT - A report by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), the nonprofit organization that oversees our power grid, said Michigan could be facing power shortages in July and August. Michigan is moving away from coal or thermal powered electricity and the state is pressing to use more and more wind and solar power. “The reality
LANSING - Representatives Abraham Aiyash (D-Hamtramck) and Yousef Rabhi (D-Ann Arbor) announced legislation that would provide relief to customers who lose power during outages and increase accountability over utility companies’ poor performance. Supporters from the League of Conservation Voters and We the People Action Fund spoke at the event in favor of the legislation. The
ANN ARBOR - Nick Dodge, spokesman for the League Of Conservation Voters, asks the question why can't the electric public utilities keep the lights on? Despite tens of millions of dollars in recent rate increases for both DTE and Consumers Energy, electric power outages this summer have impacts more than 10 percent of Michigan's population.
LANSING - The Michigan Public Service Commission this week directed the electric utilities it regulates to answer questions about the companies’ responses to storms that left more than 1 million Michiganders without power, some for more than a week, in addition to addressing how to best prepare for extreme storms that have grown increasingly severe and frequent amid the state’s
WASHINGTON DC - Hackers working for Russia were able to gain access to the control rooms of US electric utilities last year, allowing them to cause blackouts, federal officials tell the Wall Street Journal. The hackers -- working for a state-sponsored group previously identified as Dragonfly or Energetic Bear -- broke into utilities' isolated networks by
