LANSING - The Public Service Commission on Thursday authorized the Upper Peninsula Power Company to increase its electric rates, but by an amount 30.4 percent lower than the utility had requested. Also, because the final amount approved ($4,647,975 annually) is lower than the more than $6.2 million the utility self-implemented in March, the PSC said
LANSING - Consumers Energy will fully comply with the Public Service Commission's order on Thursday that it pay a fine of more than $518,000 in relation to its billing practices of providing customers will estimates for some 16 months. "We recognize that our performance on this issue does not reflect our standards of customer service,
LANSING - The Public Service Commission on Thursday assessed a fine of $518,800 on Consumers Energy Company for violating rules related to its estimated billing practices. The PSC, on January 19, opened an investigation into the utility's estimated billing practices after hearing complaints from customers for "years," it said in a statement on the matter
LANSING - The Michigan Public Service Commission on Thursday approved a settlement authorizing Consumers Energy Company to increase its natural gas rates by $40 million annually, though that is $20 million below what the utility self-implemented in January, the PSC said. A future reconciliation proceeding will determine the amount to be refunded to customers, plus
LANSING - Some 300 fewer customers are participating in electric choice programs as of December 2015 when compared to 2014, the Public Service Commission announced Monday in its annual report on electric competition. But approximately 11,000 customers remain in the queue. Specifically, the report founded about 6,140 customers participating in electric choice programs as of
LANSING - The Michigan Public Service Commission on Tuesday opened an investigation into Consumers Energy Company's estimated billing practices after hearing complaints from customers about estimated bills. "Problems have persisted for several years despite repeated meetings between the MPSC staff and the utility to reduce the number of estimated bills," PSC Chair Sally Talberg said
LANSING - Rep. Aric Nesbitt said this week there is room for technical and clerical changes in legislation overhauling the state's energy laws, but changes to the competition and competitive bidding pieces are unlikely. Nesbitt's (R-Lawton) energy plan in HB 4298, HB 4297 and HB 4575 has been sitting on the House floor since early
LANSING - The Michigan Public Service Commission and DTE Electric Company reached an agreement to allow the utility to hike its electric rates by $238.2 million annually - resulting in an increase of $8.22 monthly for residential customers using 500 kilowatt-hours of electricity a month. The new rates are effective Dec. 17. The increase is
LANSING - As has been the case with numerous other utilities that had imposed a surcharge upon their customers to pay for their renewable energy investments as mandated by the 2008 energy law, the Public Service Commission on Thursday approved a settlement agreement amending DTE Electric Company's renewable energy plan to eliminate the utility's energy
DETROIT - As Michigan Public Service Commission staff have become aware of a number of gas service lines servicing residential or commercial gas customers connected directly to gas storage field, transmission pipelines, regulated and unregulated gathering lines, oil and gas wells, and gas processing facilities, the commission has opened an inquiry into gas safety issues.
