DTE customers to state energy regulators: Our Energy Bills Are Too Damn High
Michiganders sound off on constant rate hikes, poor reliability, utility influence in Lansing at town hall in Detroit
DETROIT – On Thursday, May 29 in Detroit DTE ratepayers, Rep. Donavan McKinney (11th district), Clean Water Action, Detroit Action, the Michigan League of Conservation Voters, Michigan United Action, and Voters Not Politicians rallied at a state-organized town hall to call on regulators to rein in the constant rate hikes from big utility companies and hold them accountable for improving reliability.
“We’re sick and tired of paying the highest energy costs in the Midwest for some of the least reliable service in the country,” said Erik Shelley, an organizer for Michigan United. “So we were there to let state regulators know they should not approve any more energy cost increases given Michigan ranks near dead-last when it comes to the cost and reliability of the power we receive.”
The town hall was organized by the Michigan Public Service Commission, which regulates big utility monopolies DTE and Consumers Energy. Michigan residents pay the highest energy costs in the Midwest for some of the worst service in the country. Now DTE Energy wants to raise our rates again by $574 million, a request they made to the MPSC in April – their second highest ever.
Speakers at the gathering ahead of the town hall included Rep. Donavan McKinney (11th district), and representatives from Clean Water Action, Detroit Action, the Hip Hop Caucus, Michigan United Action, and Voters Not Politicians. Attendees called out the outsized influence of utility companies on lawmakers, high rates, poor reliability, and the need to hold these monopolies more accountable.
“The MPSC just approved Consumers Energy for a $154 million rate increase in March. DTE has requested more than a billion dollars in rate increases in the last five years, and both companies give millions to state lawmakers to maintain undue influence and keep real change from taking place. All of this needs to change, enough is enough, our constituents deserve better,” said Rep. Donavan McKinney.
In 2024, DTE Energy’s CEO made more than $12 million, a $2 million increase from 2023. Investor reports show DTE Energy’s CEO and executives receive bonuses based on how much they are able to raise our rates.
“Detroiters are struggling while the rich get richer. Costs are soaring on our rent and utilities, and decision-makers continually fail to hold bad actors accountable,” said Anthony Baber, communications & culture director for Detroit Action. “We’re tired of seeing our government enable the greed of corporations; we want to see co-governance with the people.”
“We shouldn’t be forced to pay more for our energy just so CEOs and executives can get big bonuses,” said Roslyn Ogburn, partnerships coordinator for Michigan LCV, “The status quo of high energy costs and poor service is not working for Michiganders. That’s why we are calling on lawmakers to reject political donations from big energy utility companies and put the people first in Lansing.”