LANSING, MI (WTVB) – The Michigan Senate Energy and Environment Committee is currently reviewing Senate Bill 768, which would require a three-year gap between utility rate increase requests.
Under existing state law, utilities like Consumers Energy can apply for new hikes every 12 months, a cycle critics argue leaves residents on a “constant roller coaster” of rising costs. The bill aims to provide households with more financial predictability and give the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) more time to thoroughly vet complex rate cases, which currently must be decided within a 10-month window.
The legislative push comes as Consumers Energy customers face a significant new financial burden. In March , the MPSC approved a $276.6 million annual revenue increase, the company’s largest since 2004.
For a typical residential customer in Branch County, this results in a 6.1% to 8.9% increase, adding roughly $6.46 to their monthly bill starting May 1, 2026. This follows a $153.8 million increase approved just one year prior in March 2025.
Despite the recent approval, Consumers Energy has already signaled its intent to file for another increase in June.
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