CUB in the News: Michigan lawmakers propose law to compensate customers for power outages
Newsbreak
April 17, 2022
CUB in the News: Opinion: Michigan regulators don't prioritize affordable electricity
Detroit Free Press
By Sarah Alvarez/Outlier Media and Agnel Philip/ProPublica
April 17
CUB in the News: Michigan utilities would pay residents if their power goes out under new legislation
Fox 2 Detroit
By Jack Nissen
April 14, 2022
Recent News: New transmission line could give Michigan better access to cheaper, more reliable, cleaner electricity from the grid
Michigan Radio
By Traci Samilton
April 11, 2022
CUB in the News: Credit:Rebecca Mock for ProPublica Lights Out: Profitable Utility Company Shut Off Electricity to Homes Hundreds of Thousands of Times
ProPublica
Outlier Media
Patch
By Sarah Alvarez
March 18, 2022
https://patch.com/michigan/across-mi/lights-out-during-pandemic
Statement: Michigan PSC Order on Reliability Standards Is A ‘Missed Opportunity’ To Protect Michigan Residents, Citizens Utility Board of Michigan Says
In its first major regulation in response to the frequent power outages that have plagued Michigan consumers, the Michigan Public Service Commission on March 17 failed to approve important reforms advocated by the Citizens Utility Board of Michigan, Attorney General Dana Nessel and many other stakeholders that would have created additional consumer protections to set Michigan on the path to better electric reliability.
CUB, the AG and others had called for limits on the ability of Michigan's utilities like DTE and Consumers Energy to recover the costs of those bill credits through higher electric rates. The Commission did not order any such action, meaning that utilities will be able to request rate hikes on the very same customers who suffer from poor electric reliability that is, in great part, the result of the utilities' mismanagement of the distribution grid. The Commission also declined to endorse CUB's proposal to more closely tie bill credits to the length of outages so customers get more compensation for longer outages.
Read moreCUB in the News: Widespread power outages spark new state website to hold utilities accountable
MLive
By Sheri McWhirter
March 9, 2022
CUB in the News: AG Nessel, Citizens Utility Board Urge Clean Energy Comments from Utilities
Blue Water Healthy Living
March 2, 2022
Press Release: AG Nessel, Citizens Utility Board Urge Clean Energy Comments from Utilities
https://www.michigan.gov/ag/0,4534,7-359-92297_47203-578075--,00.html
Media contact: Lynsey Mukomel 517-599-2746
Public inquiries: 517-335-7622
March 1, 2022
LANSING - Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel joined the Citizens Utility Board of Michigan (CUB) in asking the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) to seek comments from utilities on their plans to incorporate federal grants and loans that are available to assist in addressing the climate crisis.
In a joint letter sent to the MPSC Monday, Nessel and CUB Executive Director Amy Bandyk noted the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, signed into law in November, provides millions of federal investment dollars that utilities can rely on for infrastructure improvement related to clean energy. It also asks the MPSC to "issue an order asking the utilities and interested parties to file comments on available federal programs as they pertain to Michigan's regulated utilities."
"This historic investment provides an opportunity for Michigan utilities to focus on cleaner energy, while also helping to address cost barriers that previously impacted transition plans," Nessel said. "It's our hope that commission leadership can make this a focus and prioritize the use of these federal dollars."
"Transitioning to cleaner energy is essential, but we need to make sure the costs aren't overly burdensome for Michigan's residential ratepayers who already pay some of the highest rates for energy in the country," Bandyk said. "We joined with AG Dana Nessel on this request because these federal funds are a big opportunity to benefit all Michigan residents."
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