Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is trying to take a meat cleaver to DTE Energy's proposed natural gas rate hike, telling state regulators she wants the increase capped at roughly $34.8 million. That would chop about 85% off the $237.5 million DTE asked for last November, according to her testimony. Nessel's filing argues that most of the utility's requested spending would not meaningfully improve reliability or affordability for Michigan households.
What The AG Wants Regulators To Do
In testimony filed with the Michigan Public Service Commission, Nessel contends that roughly 85% of DTE's proposed costs do not improve reliability, affordability, or provide meaningful customer benefit, according to The Detroit News. She added that "DTE is raking in record profits while turning around and asking Michigan families to foot the bill for bloated, unjustified costs," the report says.
DTE’s Filing And The Numbers In Play
DTE filed its gas rate application in November 2025, asking the commission to approve a net revenue deficiency of $237.5 million for a test year beginning Oct. 1, according to the Michigan Public Service Commission. The request would translate to roughly a 10% overall hike and about an 8% increase for residential customers, per the Citizens Utility Board of Michigan.
DTE Pushes Back As Bills Keep Climbing
DTE has pushed back in filings and public statements, arguing the request allows continued investment in safety and reliability while keeping costs low for customers, according to The Detroit News. The company also recently secured a separate electric rate approval earlier this year, with the commission signing off on a roughly $242.4 million electric increase in February, a decision local outlets covered. WXYZ reported on that action and its customer impacts.
What Happens Next In The Rate Case
The matter remains active in MPSC docket U-21973, with discovery and testimony ongoing and both DTE and the Attorney General's office continuing to file evidence in the record, according to the Michigan Public Service Commission. An administrative law judge will review the filings and recommend a course of action before the commission issues a final order, a process that typically takes months and can materially change what ultimately appears on customers' bills.
Legal Backdrop And How This Has Played Out Before
Nessel's push follows a familiar pattern in Michigan utility cases, where regulators have often pared back company requests when they find costs unsupported. For example, reporting from local outlets notes the commission trimmed a prior DTE gas filing down to about $113.8 million in late 2024. MetroDetroitToday covered that order, and the Attorney General's office has repeatedly highlighted similar outcomes in press releases from the Michigan Attorney General's office.
For Detroit-area gas customers, the current case means the final price tag could end up far lower than DTE's original filing if regulators buy the Attorney General's arguments. Households and local policymakers will be watching the U-21973 docket as filings, hearings and the administrative law judge's recommendation unfold, knowing those decisions will eventually show up on their monthly bills.
