AG Dana Nessel filed testimony before the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) arguing that Consumers Energy Company’s requested $248 million rate hike for natural gas customers should be reduced by nearly 70%. Consumers Energy requested the rate hike only five months after receiving authority to increase its gas rates by $35 million.

Consumers Energy is seeking permission to bill its customers an additional $248 million annually, on top of current rates, amounting to a 12% residential rate hike. It is also asking the Commission to increase the profit percentage it makes on certain expenses, further increasing the return for its shareholders at a direct cost to its customers. In addition, Consumers Energy is seeking to increase residential and small commercial monthly charges by 33% after receiving, in its last gas rate case, a 10% increase in the monthly charge for residential customers and a 13% increase in the small commercial monthly charge.