NEW: Michigan ranks dead last nationally for longest power outages/restoration time despite massive rate hikes year after year. Thousands of Consumers Energy customers across southwest Michigan, are still without power this 4th of July weekend after multiple sets of storms rolled through the state Friday.
- In June, Consumers Energy Filed for Another Major Rate Increase -
Consumers Energy asked state regulators to approve a $456 million power rate hike — its largest request in more than 20 years — just one year after its previous filing, on the first day Michigan law permitted it.
The utility filed the paperwork on Tuesday, June 2. If approved, residential customers would see a 9.8% increase. The company argues the additional revenue would help reduce the frequency and duration of outages for its nearly 1.9 million Michigan customers through investments in tree trimming, automation, and grid upgrades.
Consumer advocates quickly pushed back against the proposal.
