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December 1st, 2024
In 2024, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel took action to protect Michigan consumers from unnecessary utility costs and hold utility companies accountable for corporate practices that harm ratepayers.
In February 2024, Nessel filed expert testimony with the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC), urging them to disallow nearly $18 million in excess natural gas costs billed by DTE Gas and DTE Electric during 2022 and part of 2023. These costs stem from a 2014 contract with NEXUS Transmission, a former DTE affiliate, which promised savings from Appalachian-region gas transportation. However, the savings never materialized, and Michigan residents were left paying millions for a deal that failed to deliver on its promises. Nessel’s testimony calls for the Commission to disallow $17.6 million of these excess charges, ensuring that DTE customers are not further burdened by this faulty contract.
In addition to this effort, Nessel also filed comments with the MPSC regarding Consumers Energy’s 5-year distribution plan, which forecasts a $7 billion investment in Michigan’s electric grid. While the plan includes major spending on reliability improvements, Nessel raised significant concerns over its lack of clarity regarding customer cost impacts, the adequacy of reliability improvements, and the absence of accountability measures if the company fails to meet its goals. She noted that while the plan proposes a 9% improvement in reliability, it requires a 75% increase in capital spending, a poor deal for customers.
These actions represent Nessel’s ongoing commitment to ensuring that Michigan residents are not exploited by corporate greed and that utility companies are held accountable for their decisions.