Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is pushing back against DTE Energy’s latest natural gas rate increase, arguing for an 85% reduction that could save customers millions of dollars.
DTE requested a $237.5 million rate hike in November 2025, which would raise rates by 10% overall and at least 8% for residential customers.
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On March 13, Nessel presented testimony from four industry experts to the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC), recommending that the increase be limited to $34.8 million, according to a release.
Her office found that 85% of DTE’s proposed expenses weren’t adequately justified for improving service reliability, affordability, or customer benefits.
“DTE is raking in record profits while turning around and asking Michigan families to foot the bill for bloated, unjustified costs,” said Attorney General Nessel. “As no surprise, DTE has once again fattened its rate hike request with excessive and unwarranted expenses – this time by 85%. I implore the MPSC to stand up for Michigan ratepayers, prioritize affordability for customers, and not rubber-stamp the demands of utility corporations.”
This request follows DTE’s November 2024 natural gas rate increase of $113 million, which was less than half of their initial request after Nessel’s intervention.
Since taking office, Nessel has helped Michigan consumers save more than $4.1 billion through interventions in utility cases before the MPSC. Her office has challenged costs in recent rate hike requests from both DTE and Consumers Energy, including expenses like private jet travel for executives, according to the release.
DTE provides natural gas service to 1.3 million customers across Michigan and electricity to about 2.2 million customers in Southeast Michigan.
The company has already announced plans to file for an electric rate increase in April.
Several utility rate increase requests are currently pending before the MPSC, including the following:
- Consumers Energy: Electric and natural gas rate hikes
- SEMCO Energy Gas Company: Gas rate increase
- Michigan Gas Utilities Corporation: Gas rate increase
- Upper Peninsula Power Company: Electric rate increase