In the midst of an affordability crisis, utilities in Michigan are proposing an over 9% rate hike to generate hundreds of millions more in profits at a time when their customers are struggling to pay their bills.
Michigan families deserve affordable, reliable electricity—not another round of excessive rate hikes. Add your name to urge the Michigan Public Service Commission to reject Consumers Energy's excessive rate increase and prioritize affordable, reliable energy for Michigan families.
To the Michigan Public Service Commission:
We urge the Michigan Public Service Commission to limit the proposal by Consumers Energy to raise rates for Michigan residents, and challenge the company’s return on equity expectations.
Utilities should earn fair returns—but not at the expense of household affordability. The MPSC has a responsibility to ensure customers only pay for prudent, necessary utility investments at reasonable profit levels.
This proposal represents just the latest request in a string of yearly rate hikes from Consumers Energy that stretch back six years, placing incredible pressure on everyday Michiganders to keep the lights on. The company’s over 9% hike proposal would increase the average electric bill by more than $150/year, forcing higher prices on customers already paying for some of the least reliable electricity services in the country.
Consumers Energy claims the increase is needed to bury power lines, improve reliability, and– strangely– to reduce long-term costs. Those objectives are important, but regulators should closely examine whether the proposed investments are the most cost-effective way to improve service.
The Commission should protect Michigan consumers by ensuring that large new energy users pay their own way, carefully reviewing utility spending, prioritizing cost-effective investments such as energy efficiency, and keeping customer affordability at the center of every decision. Please listen to Michigan residents and do all you can to hold utilities accountable and bring down energy costs in our communities.