As Michigan residents bear the weight of soaring energy costs, Attorney General Dana Nessel stands firm on her mission to shield consumers from what could be seen as unchecked increases in utility rates. Following the heels of a $157.5 million natural gas rate hike by Consumers Energy—approved just last month—the utility has signaled its intention to impose another bump in charges come December, as confirmed in a press release from Nessel's office.
While details on the impending hike are sparse, the shadow of the prior $248 million ask, which would have escalated residential rates by 12%, looms over Michigan households, Nessel, in her pledge to probe into these proposals, claims that such scrutiny has historically unearthed millions in unjustified costs, "My office will scrutinize this upcoming rate hike request for unreasonable or unsupported costs, just as we do in every major case, and just like every other time we’ve done so, I am sure we will uncover millions in indefensible costs," she conveyed in a statement acquired by the Michigan Attorney General's press release.
Michigan's energy giants like DTE and Consumers Energy have been previously critiqued for incorporating dubious expenses in their rate hike narratives, including luxury travel for executives—costs that have been dismissed as improper during regulatory reviews. Currently, Michiganders are seeing DTE's fresh electric rate increase application (U-21860) and Consumers Energy's own electric rate surge petition (U-21870) undergoing the scrutiny of the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC).
