Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has announced her intent to intervene in DTE’s latest request to hike natural gas rates by $237 million annually, which was filed yesterday before the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC). If approved as requested, the rate hike would amount to an overall 10% increase for DTE gas customers, including at least an 8% hike for residential customers. This request follows last year’s natural gas rate hike of $113 million, less than half of what DTE initially sought after Attorney General Nessel intervened to protect Michigan ratepayers.
“If recent history tells us anything, it’s that this new rate hike request will be filled with costs that simply cannot be justified,” Nessel said. “Time and again, we’ve seen DTE try to pass on to its customers millions of dollars in unnecessary expenses, such as private jet travel for its executives. My office will go through this proposal with a fine-tooth comb to make sure every dollar DTE wants to collect from ratepayers is tied to a clear and measurable benefit. Michigan families should not be asked to pay more for utility services simply to pad corporate profits. While we will work tirelessly to defend DTE’s customers from the company, this latest rate hike filing is only the latest in a ceaseless march by our utility companies to consistently squeeze their customers for more and more, year after year.”