At heated public meeting, Michigan commission green-lights Line 5 tunnel
During a heated public meeting full of emotional testimony, Michiganโs top energy regulator has granted Enbridge a permit to build a tunnel under the Straits of Mackinac, in an important โ but not final โ step in the controversial projectโs approval process.
Michigan residents can share power outage concerns with state officials in virtual town hall
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.
Michigan introduces energy security plan in expectation of Line 5 closure
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 stateโs new Propane Security Plan. Though the closure of Line 5 appears to be a โwhenโ 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 stateโs attempt to revoke the 1953 easement. Enbridge officials argued that shutting down Line 5 is โimproper and unlawful,โ and that disrupting the oil flow would negatively impact U.S. and Canadian residents and businesses.
Michigan Gov. Whitmer makes appointments to the Office of Childrenโs Ombudsman, Michigan Public Service Commission
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. โ Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced that Suzanna Shkreli will serve as Director of the Office of Childrenโs 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.
Michigan Gov. Whitmer signs emergency rules allowing state agencies to conduct remote hearings
LANSING, Mich. โ 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. โContinuing the practice of remote hearings will help us continue to protect Michigan families, frontline workers, and small businesses,โ 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:
DTE Energy: Electric rates wont increase until 2022
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.
Regulators deny quick approval of new Great Lakes pipeline
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.
Michigan residents warned about scammers who pretend to be with utility companies
DETROIT โ 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 wonโt use โbullying tacticsโ when calling customers and wonโt 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 wonโt 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.
DTE Gas to issue bill credits to customers to reflect corporate tax cuts
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.