AG Nessel Reaffirms Commitment to Protect Michigan Ratepayers as DTE Files New $574 Million Rate Hike Request

LANSING — Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is reaffirming her commitment to stand up for Michigan utility customers in announcing she will intervene in the latest DTE rate case brought before the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC). Yesterday, DTE filed a new electric rate hike request, seeking a rate hike of approximately $574 million annually, an 11% increase for residential customers, only three months after receiving approval for a $217 million hike earlier this year. 

“Just three months after the MPSC approved a $217 million rate hike, DTE is already back, asking for nearly $600 million more from ratepayers still very dissatisfied with the quality of service they receive,” Nessel said. “At some point, we have to ask how long utility companies like DTE and Consumers Energy will be allowed to treat customer bills and our energy rates like a blank check. My office will carefully scrutinize this rate hike request, just like we have with every other one, to ensure DTE isn’t padding our bills with bloated or unjustified expenses that do nothing to improve reliability and only serve to fatten the wallets of their executives and shareholders.” 

The Attorney General has saved Michigan consumers more than $3.7 billion by intervening in utility cases before the MPSC. Earlier this week, she filed testimony before the MPSC arguing that Consumers Energy Company’s requested $248 million annual hike for natural gas customers should be reduced by nearly 70%. DTE sells electricity to approximately 2.3 million customers in Southeast Michigan and natural gas to 1.3 million customers across the state.