LANSING, MI (WTVB) – Consumers Energy residential electric customers in Branch County and across Michigan will find a surprise on their June bills: a rate hike quietly passed along by the utility. The increase of about $3 a month is based on a provision in the law, which according to MIRS News, allows utilities to self-implement rate increases the state still hasn’t officially signed off on.
Late last year, Consumers filed a case with the Michigan Public Service Commission seeking to adjust their electricity rates. A final decision from the MPSC on adjusting the rates likely won’t come until the end of 2015. State law allows the utility, absent the PSC blocking it, to self-implement some or all of the rate increase six months after initially filing the case. MIRS says on June 4th, Consumers put in place a $110 million increase in rates, although it requested the state approve a $163 million total increase when the case is all said and done. According to MIRS, June 4th came and went with no official public announcement from either the MPSC or Consumers about the jump in rates.
Consumers spokesperson Brian Wheeler said the utility is sharing news of the rate changes by including messages in customer bills and in regular e-mail communications provided to business customers.
