State officials did an audit of the equipment used by DTE Energy and Consumers Energy and found several issues that contribute to outages and high costs.

During a heated public meeting full of emotional testimony, Michigan’s top energy regulator has granted Enbridge a permit to build a tunnel under the Straits of Mackinac, in an important — but not final — step in the controversial project’s approval process.

According to the commission, about four miles of Line 5′s two 20-inch pipelines will be replaced with a single 30-inch pipeline that will be placed inside a concrete-lined tunnel routed under the lake bed.

A Michigan commission approved a new $368 million rate increase for DTE Electric customers, which likely means you’ll be paying more soon.

Morning 4 is a quick roundup of stories we think you should know about to start your day.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel asked the Michigan Public Service Commission (MSPC) Chair to investigate DTE Energy's eBill program.

A $95 million rate hike was approved for Consumers Energy this week, which means residential customers will be paying a bit more starting this fall.

DTE Energy has agreed to make seven changes centered around reliability, cost, environmental standards, and transparency after Michigan’s attorney general called for improvements.

Michigan residents who lose power for an extended period of time will get a larger credit from their utility company moving forward, according to newly approved changes from the Michigan Public Service Commission.

State officials will hold a virtual town hall Tuesday afternoon, where residents can voice their concerns about power outages following several widespread outage events that have occurred in recent months and years.

Multiple speakers asked the Michigan Public Service Commission to turn down DTE’s request for a rate hike and build more accountability for poor performance.

State officials will hold a town hall in Dearborn on Monday to listen to residents’ concerns about power outages after a February ice storm caused hundreds of thousands of outages across Metro Detroit.

State officials will hold a town hall in Dearborn next week to listen to residents’ concerns about power outages after a February ice storm caused hundreds of thousands of outages across Metro Detroit.

According to the Michigan Public Service Commission, the 313 area code is expected to run out of unassigned numbers by late 2025.

According to the Michigan Public Service Commission, the 313 area code is expected to run out of unassigned numbers by late 2025.

A $30.5 million rate increase was approved for DTE Electric on Friday, a hike set to take effect on Nov. 25.

The Michigan Public Service Commission ordered an audit of the state’s biggest utility companies in response to lengthy power outages and downed power line incidents this summer.

DTE Energy is proposing a $388 million investment into Michigan’s energy grid and electric storage and generation system.

The Michigan Public Service Commission approved an order Wednesday to collect data on electric companies' response and preparedness after over 1 million residents were left without power due to storms earlier in August.

The shutdown of a major pipeline on the East Coast due to a cyberattack will not impact automotive fuel supply in Michigan, officials said on Wednesday.

The rollout of a new phone number to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline will affect certain Michigan telephone users.

Over the last few years, Michigan officials have been at odds with the company Enbridge, who owns and operates Line 5 -- a major oil pipeline that runs beneath the Straits of Mackinac. AdOn Friday, March 12, the Michigan Public Service Commission introduced the state’s new Propane Security Plan. Though the closure of Line 5 appears to be a “when” issue for Michigan officials, Enbridge officials in January said they have no intention of closing the pipeline. AdOn Nov. 24, 2020, Enbridge filed a federal lawsuit against the state of Michigan, challenging the state’s attempt to revoke the 1953 easement. Enbridge officials argued that shutting down Line 5 is “improper and unlawful,” and that disrupting the oil flow would negatively impact U.S. and Canadian residents and businesses.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her State of the State address to a joint session of the House and Senate, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020, at the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)LANSING, Mich. – Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced that Suzanna Shkreli will serve as Director of the Office of Children’s Ombudsman (OCO) and Katherine L. Peretick will serve as a Commissioner with the Michigan Public Service Commission. READ: Michigan Gov. Katherine will be the first engineer in recent memory to serve as a member of the Michigan Public Service Commission.

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed emergency rules allowing the Michigan Employment Relations Commission (MERC) and the Michigan Public Service Commission (PSC) to conduct remote hearings. “Continuing the practice of remote hearings will help us continue to protect Michigan families, frontline workers, and small businesses,” Whitmer said. The emergency rule amendment will revise Rule 121 of the MAHS administrative hearing rules, Rule 792.10121, to allow MOAHR to continue to remotely conduct hearings on behalf of the MERC and the PSC. READ: Continuous COVID-19 coverageView the signed emergency rules below:

DETROIT DTE Energy announced Thursday that electric rates will remain unchanged until 2022 amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The Michigan Public Service Commission (MSPC) approved a regulatory plan on Thursday that will maintain current electric rates for DTE customers. These approved plans will enable DTE to meet our commitment to clean, affordable renewable energy while, at the same time, keeping rates stable for our customers.The news comes after the MSPC previously approved a $188.3 million rate increase for DTE -- a 4.7 percent rate increase for DTE customers -- in early May. DTE is Michigans largest renewable energy producer and, when these projects are complete, the company will generate enough clean energy to power 620,000 homes.Officials say the company will invest an addition $2 billion in renewable energy assets over the next four years. Consumers Energy also requested a rate increase of $244 million just ahead of the pandemic in February, which would result in a 14 percent increase for customers.

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. A Michigan regulatory panel on Tuesday refused to grant quick permission to run a new oil pipeline beneath a channel that connects two of the Great Lakes, deciding instead to conduct a full review. Enbridge filed an application in April with the Michigan Public Service Commission to relocate a segment of its Line 5 that extends beneath the Straits of Mackinac, which links Lakes Huron and Michigan. Enbridge asked the state commission to approve the plan immediately, arguing that the agency in effect had already given permission by allowing the original Line 5 in 1953. Enbridge has already shown that they cannot be trusted, said Sean McBrearty of the environmental coalition Oil & Water Don't Mix. Circuit Judge James Jamo was scheduled to hear arguments Tuesday on whether to extend the order or allow oil to resume flowing through the pipes.

DETROIT – Scams where callers pretend to be from utility companies are on the rise, according to the Michigan Public Service Commission. The Commission issued a warning to consumers this week about callers who say they are with utility companies and demand immediate payment, often in the form of gift cards or Bitcoin. RELATED: Michigan AG Dana Nessel shares plan to crack down on robocallsThe MPSC said utility companies won’t use “bullying tactics” when calling customers and won’t demand immediate payment to keep services from being turned off in hours. In addition to phone scams, customers are reminded that legitimate workers with utility companies won’t coercive residents into letting them into their homes. Utility customers who have given bank account information to someone they think may have been an impostor should call their bank and local police department.

LAKANADTE Gas customers will see a very small monthly credit on their bills starting in September and lasting for more than 20 years. The Michigan Public Service Commission today approved monthly decreases for DTE Gas Co. customers to reflect the impact lower federal corporate tax rates have on the companys long-term investments. A residential customer who uses 10,000 cubic feet of natural gas a month will receive a 58-cent monthly credit on their bill beginning in September. And on average, customers would see a total refund of about $180 over that time. MPSC approved refunds of $2.12 a month for DTE Gas customers in May 2018 and refunds of $2.21 a month in October 2018.