Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is taking immediate action against Consumers Energy’s latest request for a natural‑gas rate increase. The move comes only days after the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) approved a $139 million hike – a 4.3% rise for a typical residential customer – and a 9.8% return‑on‑equity for the utility.
Background on the recent approval
On Thursday, Oct. 15, the MPSC voted to raise natural‑gas rates for Consumers Energy. The commission said the increase would translate into an estimated monthly bump of $25.29 for businesses, with residential impacts varying based on usage. The approved hike is slated to take effect in November 2026.
Consumers Energy’s new filing
Just three days later, on Monday, Consumers Energy submitted a filing indicating its intent to seek another natural‑gas rate increase on or after Dec. 18, 2026. The utility’s statement highlighted ongoing infrastructure projects, including the replacement of thousands of service lines, upgrades to pressure facilities, and the addition of cost‑effective technology.
Attorney General’s response
In a statement, Nessel said her office will file to intervene in the pending case. She criticized the utility for pursuing a second hike before the first approved increase has even been implemented. “Major utilities like Consumers Energy and DTE employ entire teams of staff to craft rate‑hike applications to file one right after another, and their bill‑paying customers pay all the costs to craft these massive proposals,” Nessel said.
Nessel added that the AG’s office has previously asked the MPSC to require utilities to track the costs associated with each rate‑hike case. “As long as their customers are paying for the process, I hope someday soon we’ll know just how much,” she said.
Impact on Michigan families and businesses
Consumers Energy serves more than 1.8 million homes and businesses across the state. While the utility emphasizes the need for reliable service and infrastructure upgrades, the prospect of another rate increase raises concerns for households already feeling the strain of higher energy costs.
Local consumer advocates have echoed the AG’s concerns, warning that repeated rate‑hike filings could erode confidence in the regulatory process and place an undue burden on Michigan families.
What’s next?
The MPSC will review Consumers Energy’s new filing, and the AG’s intervention will add a formal legal perspective to the discussion. If the commission moves forward with the proposed increase, the utility will likely set a timeline for implementation later in 2026 or early 2027.
Stakeholders, including residential customers, businesses, and local elected officials, are encouraged to monitor the MPSC’s proceedings and the AG’s filings for further developments.
About the agencies
The Michigan Public Service Commission regulates utilities to ensure safe, reliable service at reasonable rates. The Attorney General’s office oversees consumer protection matters and can intervene in utility cases when it believes the public interest is at stake.
Consumers Energy’s website states, “We deliver natural gas to over 1.8 million homes and businesses across Michigan. This responsibility requires ongoing work to build and maintain the infrastructure that brings energy right to you. We do this because we understand how important dependable energy is to your business.”
Original reporting: FOX 17 WXMI Grand Rapids (local) — read the source article.
