CUB in the News: Consumers Energy gets $35 million natural gas rate hike but a credit means bills will drop
The Detroit News By Myesha Johnson July 23, 2024 View Article
The Detroit News By Myesha Johnson July 23, 2024 View Article
Last week the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) approved a $17.3 million rate increase for electric customers of Indiana Michigan Power (I&M), which, while still too high, represents another example of the MPSC demanding greater accountability for Michigan utilities because the commissioners cut the rate hike by 50% compared to I&M’s initial request. “The MPSC
Indiana Michigan Power Rate Case Has Some Notable Victories for Ratepayers Read More »
MLive By Lucas Smolcic Larson July 5, 2024 View Article
Detroit Free Press By Amy Bandyk and Natalie Lyijynen July 4, 2024 View Op-Ed
In testimony recently filed with the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) on behalf of the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) of Michigan, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the National Housing Trust, expert witness Roger Colton, a consultant on utility issues for low-income customers, lays out in detail what should be done to help get
To justify its proposed increase in rate base, Consumers Energy “has made much of the need to replace old equipment at an accelerated rate,” according to testimony in the Consumers Energy rate case from 5 Lakes Energy Managing Partner Douglas Jester (also sponsored by CUB, MEC, NRDC and the Sierra Club). But from the standpoint
Consumers Energy Electric Rate Case (U-21389) Read More »
While it may seem at first glance that more money will mean better grid performance, that has not been historically true. Research by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has “found no correlation between investor-owned utility distribution capital spending increases and reliability improvement the following year,” Wired Group President Paul Alvarez said in testimony filed in
DTE Electric Rate Case (U-21297) Read More »
On March 1, the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) approved Consumers Energy’s latest electric rate case with an order that cut the rate increase by about 45% compared to what the utility had proposed. During the MPSC’s meeting Commissioner Alessandra Carreon explained one reason why the utility did not get all the spending approved for cost recovery
Regulations that punish utilities for poor performance is perhaps what Michiganders need the most to get more accountability and better electric reliability. But utilities are steering the regulatory process to craft new regulations toward weak and self-serving rules. Now that process is getting the spotlight it deserves with a recent Detroit News article that reports on how
MPSC Proposal for Financial Rewards to Utilities Faces Opposition Read More »
Approved return on equity: 9.8% Approved overall rate of return: 5.8% Approved revenue requirement increase: $113.78 million Approved residential class rate increase: 2.28% Requested return on equity: 10.25% Requested overall rate of return: 6.04% Requested revenue requirement increase: $266 million Requested residential class rate increase: 9% Time period: Oct. 1, 2024 – Sept. 30, 2025
DTE Gas Rate Case U-21291 (2024) Read More »