MichCon Wants Rate Hike, Says Bills Would Be Less

MichCon President Jerry Norcia said the rate increase is needed to safely maintain the distribution system and provide appropriate levels of reliability and customer service.

He attributed half the drop in heating bill costs to customers' conservation efforts and the other half to the lower cost of gas. He said customers are waiting longer to turn on their furnaces in the fall and turning them off sooner after winter.

MichCon has 1.2 million customers.

Regulators have about six months to rule on MichCon's proposed rate increase. If they do not issue an order before January, MichCon can automatically raise rates on its own for an interim amount of time.