State lawmakers introduce key pieces to Ratepayer Bill of Rights, expanding outage credits and stopping energy shutoffs
New legislative introductions build momentum for package to hold DTE, Consumers accountable
LANSING – Lawmakers introduced key pieces of the recently announced Ratepayer Bill of Rights, a legislative framework to protect consumers from skyrocketing energy prices, poor service, out-of-control utility executive pay and the undue influence Big Energy CEOs wield in Lansing.
Guaranteeing Michiganders fair compensation when the power goes out
State Rep. Donavan McKinney introduced HBs 4973 – 4978, legislation that would expand compensation for energy customers who experience repeated power outages. The new credits would start at $5/hour for the first hour and progressively increase to a maximum of $25/hour for every hour that an outage lasts longer than 72 hours.
In addition, the bill would require the Michigan Public Service Commission to devise a formula to establish a Service Outage Credit for non-residential customers. The credits would be indexed to inflation. The legislation also automatically would provide a $100 credit on a customer’s electric utility bill if the customer had four service interruptions lasting one or more hours in the last 12 months. It would be $200 credit if they had more than 4 interruptions lasting more than an hour.
“We’re putting utility companies on notice that we’re standing up for the people and that we are standing up for families,” said State Rep. Donavan McKinney (D-Detroit) at a press conference last week announcing the Ratepayer Bill of Rights. “We’re going to guarantee people fair compensation when their power goes out, including renters. Other states have done this, so can Michigan.”
Stopping Dangerous Power Shutoffs
State Rep. Tonya Myers Phillips (D-Detroit) introduced legislation named the Protect Kids & Seniors from the Cold Act, aimed at protecting vulnerable Michigan families from life-threatening winter utility shutoffs. The bill would ensure that seniors aged 65 and older, along with households with children 16 and under, are enrolled in a statutorily-mandated shutoff protection program during the winter heating season (Nov. 1 – March 31).
“I introduced the Protect Kids & Seniors from the Cold Act because I cannot stand by while Michigan families face the cruel effects of skyrocketing utility costs,” Myers Phillips said in her press release announcing the legislation. “Well-intentioned existing programs simply aren’t enough to keep every child and senior safe during brutal winters. No child should ever shiver in a car just to find warmth, and no family should lose loved ones to fires sparked by unsafe heating when utilities are shut off.”
Ensuring residents can generate their own energy through community solar
Earlier this month, a bipartisan group of Michigan lawmakers, including State Sen. Jeff Irwin and State Sen. Ed McBroom, introduced legislation to establish a community solar program, giving families, businesses, schools and local organizations new ways to lower their electricity bills through locally-built solar projects.
“In Ann Arbor and across southeast Michigan, many families and renters want to participate in clean energy but simply don’t have the option to put solar on their own roof,” said Sen. Jeff Irwin in a press release announcing the legislation. “Community solar makes it possible for everyone — whether you rent an apartment or own a small business — to access affordable, local renewable energy. It’s a practical way to cut costs, meet rising demand, and create good jobs in our communities.”
Banning political contributions to state lawmakers from the utilities they’re supposed to oversee
In April, a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced the “Taking Back Our Power” legislative package that would ban regulated utility companies and major government contractors from making political donations to lawmakers in the Legislature. The legislation is supported by the Taking Back Our Power coalition and represents a major step toward reining in utility company influence in Lansing.
“The sad truth is that Michiganders have been forced to pay the highest rates in the region and deal with some of the worst energy services. There’s a reason for this: our state regulated utility corporations like DTE and Consumers have spent millions of dollars influencing elected officials instead of improving their services,” said Rep. Dylan Wegela in a press release announcing the legislation. “These utilities should spend their money modernizing their grid, trimming trees, burying lines, and any other steps that provide a more reliable service exclusively – not trying to buy influence with politicians. This legislation will force utility companies to focus on improving their services instead of increasing their profits.”
Michiganders pay the highest energy costs in the Midwest for the longest amount of time out of power in the country. The Ratepayer Bill of Rights represents a legislative framework to provide Michiganders relief on energy bills by holding utility companies accountable and expanding opportunities to generate their own affordable energy.
A fact sheet detailing all of the components of the Ratepayer Bill of Rights can be found here.