Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is pushing back against DTE Energy’s proposed rate hike.
DTE Energy filed a request in March seeking an annual increase in revenues of $456.4 million. According to the AG’s office, the request came less than four months after the Michigan Public Service Commission granted the company a $368 million annual rate increase.
Nessel argued that DTE’s requested increase, which would result in a 10% hike for residential customers, is “excessive and unnecessary.” DTE Energy said that the company is “focused on improving reliability across our service territory.”
“A deep dive into DTE’s latest electric rate case reveals a disturbing pattern of exaggerated projections and unsubstantiated projects that clearly prioritize corporate interests over customer benefits,” Nessel said. “DTE is once again seeking MPSC approval to bill its customers for corporate jet travel by executives on top of these inflated costs. Such exorbitant expenditures not only inflate customers’ bills but also undermine DTE’s corporate pledges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These unnecessary costs directly contribute to rising utility bills.”
A protest against the rate hike is taking place at DTE Energy headquarters at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 31, 2024.
DTE Energy released the following statement in response:
“DTE Energy wants what’s best for our customers – that means safe, reliable and affordable energy. We’re focused on improving reliability across our service territory – reducing power outages by 30% and cutting outage time in half by 2029. This requires investments that will help us build a smarter, stronger and more resilient grid that will serve our customers for generations to come. We know that affordability is key for our customers, so as we invest, we’re committed to working as efficiently as possible, keeping residential bills below the national average and providing assistance to our most vulnerable customers.”
DTE Energy
The attorney general’s full testimony can be viewed at this link, or below: