Mich.'s Utilities Seek Double-digit Rate Hikes

Residential customers of Consumers Energy and Edison will see additional charges on their bill later this year related to the new law. Both companies are now allowed to add up to $3 a month to help them increase the percentage of renewable energy they're selling.

The typical Edison electric customer also may pay up to 85 cents per month for a new energy-efficiency program, while the average MichCon natural gas customer could may $1.20 more a month. A typical Consumers Energy power customer would pay an extra $1.10 a month, while a natural gas customer would pay $1.50 more per month on average.

Granholm and lawmakers say those extra surcharges will be more than offset if customers take advantage of weatherization programs, home energy audits and rebates to buy compact fluorescent light bulbs and energy-efficient appliances.

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David Eggert can be reached at deggert(at)ap.org

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