The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) is undergoing a rare review of the standards for electric service quality and reliability, two things that all Michigan households depend upon to have a high quality of life. The Citizens Utility Board (CUB) of Michigan is participating in a Workgroup of utilities and other stakeholders that are advising […]
CUB of Michigan Tackling Proposals to Reduce Power Outages Read More »
A settlement between Upper Peninsula Power Co. (UPPCO) – the largest energy provider in the UP – and Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and other groups could clear the way for an impressive increase in the amount of renewable energy in the peninsula, as well as in the state as a whole. On Dec. 6,
Amid mass power outages this past summer in the DTE and Consumers Energy service territories, tens of thousands of Michigan residents learned the hard way that the state badly needs to update its basic standards for electric service. Also, after more recent power outages, DTE COO and President Trevor Lauer recognized in a Dec. 31 interview that
MI Power Grid Update: How You Can Help Get Better Electric Service in Michigan Read More »
Gov. Whitmer’s task force has just over three months left to issue its initial report on propane – the fuel source that 25% of Upper Peninsula customers rely on as their primary source of heating to get through some of the most brutal winter conditions in the lower 48. Nationwide, somewhere around just 6% of
As Deadline Nears, Upper Peninsula Task Force Considers New Perspectives Read More »
SEMCO service territory highlighted in yellow above. Source: Michigan Public Service Commission. The Citizens Utility Board (CUB) of Michigan has good news for the over 275,000 residential customers of SEMCO Energy Gas Co, the third-largest natural gas utility in Michigan. SEMCO has reached a settlement with the state Attorney General, the staff of the Michigan
Proposed Settlement Improves Fairness for SEMCO Gas Customers Read More »
This summer the Lansing Board of Water and Light (LBWL) filed with state regulators its Energy Waste Reduction plan for 2020 and 2021. This plan lays out what the municipal utility will spend on its whole suite of programs to help customers cut their energy use. Specifically, LBWL projects a total annual budget for energy waste reduction
How to Improve the Lansing Board of Water and Light’s Energy Waste Reduction Plan Read More »
SEMCO service territory highlighted in yellow above. Source: Michigan Public Service Commission. SEMCO Energy Gas Co. is not nearly as big of a name as DTE or Consumers Energy, but all Michigan residential ratepayers should take note of the latest rate increase request from SEMCO – the third-largest natural gas utility in Michigan. This case
SEMCO Gas Proposed Rate Increase Shows Warning Signs Ratepayers Should Watch Read More »
The Upper Peninsula (UP) Energy Task Force, formed in June by an order from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, has spent its first few meetings studying the lay of the land of the Upper Peninsula. Now, the Task Force is in its very early stages of determining the potential paths forward for the UP’s energy problems. The goal is to help the region
Upper Peninsula Task Force Examines Potential Solutions to Region’s Energy Shortages Read More »
Last year, a survey found that 71% of utility company leaders believe that a “utility death spiral” is a real possibility without regulatory or other changes. The idea of a “death spiral” has been around for several years and broadly lays out a scenario in which customer adoption of distributed energy technologies that allow customers to use
Consumers Energy: Trying to Adapt to the Quickly-Changing Energy Landscape Read More »
For decades, many states have required their energy utilities to regularly submit long-term plans laying out what the utilities believe is the best way to provide reliable and cost-effective service to their customers. Known as “integrated resource plans” or IRPs, this planning process forces the utility to show what investments and strategies it will make
DTE Energy’s Long-Range Plan Fails Michigan Ratepayers Read More »
