LANSING, Mich. – Michigan regulators on Thursday approved a $100 million electric rate hike for Consumers Energy, authorizing the state’s second-largest utility to bill the average residential customer about $9 more per month starting in January.
The increase for residents is nearly 12% after factoring in other allowed adjustments, the Public Service Commission said.
The order also lets the utility spend more to trim trees to reduce power outages.
Consumers has about 1.8 million power customers, behind only DTE Energy.
“Consumers Energy is taking actions to improve our response to storms, clear more trees and limbs from power lines, and invest in new infrastructure,” spokeswoman Katie Carey said.