LANSING, Mich. (Legal Newsline) — Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette filed a request with the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC), urging it to evaluate a DTE Electric Company request to raise rates by 6.6 percent for residential customers, and increase rates significantly for business and industrial customers.
DTE also seeks to transition the cost of electric production based on peak demand for residential ratepayers, taking away a portion businesses and industrial customers pay. Schuette is asking the MPSC to consider whether this plan reasonably reflects the costs between the two consumer groups.
“Electricity is a basic need for families and businesses across Michigan,” Schuette said. “I am asking the Michigan Public Service Commission to closely examine the request being made by DTE that will raise rates for a second time in just a short period.”
If the MPSC approves DTE’s plan, residential ratepayers will see their fees increase $75 for the year on average, which adds up to roughly $148 million. Small businesses could see rate increases as high as 10.3 percent and large industrial customers 6.9 percent.
Schuette has made helping utility ratepayers a priority since taking office, saving them nearly $1.7 billion since 2011 by securing rate reductions through his Special Litigation Unit.