News & Fun in Michigan
Michigan regulators approved a $154 million utility rate hike for Consumers Energy, increasing residential electric bills by 2.8%. Critics argue this frequent rate increase burdens consumers, amidst broader economic pressures and high energy costs throughout the state.
Consumers Energy’s renewable energy initiatives in Michigan generated $13.6 million in property tax revenue in 2024, supporting local services like schools and roads. The company’s expansion plans include six additional clean energy projects, bolstering economic growth and advancing Michigan’s clean energy goals while ensuring community benefits.
Consumers Energy is enhancing grid reliability in Michigan using Automated Transfer Reclosers (ATRs), which help prevent outages for over 72,000 customers. In 2024, ATRs reduced potential downtime by 350,000 hours, aligning with the company’s goal to improve service frequency and restoration times amid severe weather challenges.
Consumers Energy, supported by nearly $20 million in federal funding, will enhance Michigan’s electric grid to accommodate the rising electric vehicle (EV) market. The initiative involves deploying AI-powered technology across 18,000 smart devices, particularly in economically disadvantaged communities, to monitor grid impacts, boost efficiency, and support carbon neutrality goals.
Consumers Energy is launching an EV workplace charging initiative to install over 500 charging stations across Michigan by 2030. Offering a $7,500 rebate for businesses, this program aims to enhance EV infrastructure and meet growing demand, supporting the state’s transition to a cleaner, sustainable energy future while promoting EV adoption.
Attorney General Dana Nessel is challenging Consumers Energy’s proposed $303 million electric rate hike, advocating for a reduction of over 70%. She argues the increase is excessive and unjustified, citing poor service reliability. Nessel’s stance reflects growing public frustration with rising utility costs and underperformance from major providers in Michigan.
We provide tips on finding affordable energy rates for businesses in Michigan. We discuss the importance of using energy comparison sites, contract length and costs, type of energy being used, and customer support. By considering these factors, businesses can potentially save a lot of money on their energy bills.
Each summer there is the potential of rapid moving storms and record setting heat which stresses the energy grid to cause a blackout.
Here is what to prepare for a power outage and outage maps for DTE Energy and Consumers Energy.
