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Hello! We’re happy to share with you the October edition of the MPSC Spotlight. In this issue, you can learn about steps the Commission is taking to tackle persistent power outages and threats to public safety from downed wires, a recent visit to the Upper Peninsula, upcoming energy assistance fairs in Grand Rapids and suburban Detroit, and other information.
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Expressing concern that there’s been too little progress in reducing power outages and making sure the public doesn’t come into contact with downed power lines, the Michigan Public Service Commission on Oct. 5 took additional actions to tackle challenges to reliability and public safety.
The Commission ordered Consumers Energy Co. and DTE Electric Co. to report to the Commission on their compliance with regulations and past Commission orders governing utilities’ response to outages and downed lines. The Commission also directed MPSC Staff to begin the process to conduct a third-party audit and review of all equipment and operations of the two utilities’ distribution systems.
The Commission took these steps as public and MPSC frustration grows with persistent widespread, lengthy outages from increasingly severe storms in Michigan. On Aug. 29, storms with gusts exceeding 70 mph left nearly half a million Michigan customers without electricity for up to several days. A 14-year-old girl was killed in Monroe and two boys were critically injured in Warren after coming into contact with power lines downed in the storm.
“These actions represent a new approach to the MPSC’s work to hold the state’s two largest electric utilities to account for persistent reliability and safety challenges,” MPSC Chair Dan Scripps said. “Over the past decade the MPSC has issued a series of directives in response to wide-spread outages after storms. While there are important efforts underway, the reality is that we still haven’t seen the improvements in reliability and safety that Michigan customers deserve. This effort to get an independent assessment of the utilities’ distribution infrastructure, programs, and processes will inform next steps and provide a necessary path forward to a power grid that meets the expectations of its customers.”
You can read more about the latest actions on challenges to reliability and follow developments in Case No. U-21305.
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Commissioners and MPSC Staff recently traveled to the Upper Peninsula for a public hearing and an energy resources fair in Marquette, while also touring Upper Peninsula Power Co.’s facilities and meeting with community organizations.
Chair Dan Scripps and Commissioners Tremaine Phillips and Katherine Peretick took public comments during a hearing Sept. 21 at Northern Michigan University on draft updates to the Michigan Integrated Resource Planning Parameters. These planning parameters apply to the long-term energy plans required of Commission-regulated electric utilities.
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You can learn more about the ongoing update in Case No. U-21219 in the MPSC’s E-Dockets system and read a copy of the MIRPP draft report.
The day before, MPSC Staff held an energy assistance fair and customer listening session at Marquette Commons in downtown Marquette. The energy fairs provide utility customers the chance to learn about energy assistance programs, payment plans and more, connect with local organizations providing energy assistance, and sign up for financial assistance on-site.
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Commissioners and Staff also met with officials from economic development agencies including InvestUP and the Lake Superior Community Partnership, and with the Superior Watershed Partnership, a partner with the MPSC on providing energy assistance and self-sufficiency services to income-qualified households. The MPSC team also met with officials from the Upper Peninsula Power Co. and toured UPPCO’s Hoist Hydroelectric dam in Negaunee, one of seven such sites the utility owns and operates.
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The MPSC’s ongoing outreach includes stops in Grand Rapids and suburban Detroit for energy assistance fairs and listening sessions in November.
Stay tuned for additional details, but mark your calendars for energy fairs:
- Nov. 10, 4-7 p.m., at the West Michigan Works! office, 215 Straight Avenue NW in Grand Rapids.
- Nov. 17, 4-7 p.m., at Kessey Fieldhouse, 4300 S. Dearborn Road in Melvindale.
The energy fairs provide information about assistance for utility customers and give them an opportunity provide input on issues of energy affordability, accessibility, and the availability of energy assistance programs. Utility customers can learn about available energy assistance programs, payment plans and more, connect with local organizations providing energy assistance, and sign up for financial assistance on-site.
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The Michigan Public Service Commission recently issued a request for proposals (RFP) for Low-Carbon Energy Infrastructure Enhancement and Development Grants, under Public Act 53 and Public Act 166 of 2022.
The acts, approved by the Michigan Legislature and signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, provide for a combined $50 million in grants for businesses, nonprofit organizations and local governments to develop, acquire or build low-carbon energy facilities that may include natural gas, combined heat and power or renewable natural gas facilities as well as electrification programs.
The RFP can be found on the Low Carbon EIED Grants webpage, which also includes a detailed timeline for submitting applications and opportunities to seek clarification on the RFP in October and November and other important information. Proposals must be submitted by Jan. 6, 2023. Inquiries and proposals must be submitted by email to LARA-MPSC-LowCarbonGrants@michigan.gov.
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The MPSC recently submitted to state lawmakers a report outlining the potential of renewable natural gas (RNG) in Michigan and the barriers to developing and using it.
The MPSC was directed to conduct the study under Public Act 87 of 2021, approved by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in September 2021. The Michigan Renewable Natural Gas Study is available on the MPSC’s website.
Renewable natural gas is pipeline-quality biogas — derived from the breakdown of organic matter from landfills, wastewater treatment plants, farm animal waste, crop residues or food waste — that is interchangeable with conventional natural gas used to heat Michiganders’ homes. The study concludes that capturing RNG from existing waste streams can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change, particularly if it is derived from sources that create methane emissions otherwise released into the atmosphere.
Additional information about the study can be found at the RNG study’s workgroup webpage.
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The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) State Energy Program will host a virtual public meeting about grants to help prevent power outages and improve the resilience of Michigan’s energy grid.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Preventing Outages and Enhancing the Resilience of the Electric Grid Grants are intended to provide funding to eligible entities to carry out activities that are supplemental to existing hardening efforts and reduce the risk of power lines causing a wildfire or reduce the likelihood and consequences of disruptive events. EGLE will share information regarding the proposed funding distributions, objectives and metrics, as well as the criteria and methods to be used to grant awards to eligible entities.
The online meeting will be on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022, at 1 p.m. Pre-register any time or join on November 10 at https://bit.ly/3qAeUzN. Participants also may call into the meeting at 636-651-3142; use conference code 374288. Individuals needing language assistance or accommodations for effective participation at the meeting should contact Jessie Crawford at CrawfordJ15@Michigan.gov or 517-231-1051 by Oct. 28 to request language, mobility, visual, hearing, translation or other assistance.
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Here’s information about orders the Commission approved Oct. 5:
- The MPSC approved a power purchase agreement (PPA) between Consumers Energy Co. and STS Hydropower LLC for the output of the Ada Hydro Plant, a 1,400-kilowatt generating station on the Thornapple River near Ada in west Michigan (Case No. U-18425). The term of the new PPA began on June 15, 2022, and is extended to May 31, 2023. The Commission also approved 25-year PPAs beginning March 25, 2022, between Consumers and Confluence Solar LLC in Genesee County and Heartwood Solar LLC in Hillsdale County (Case No. U-20165). Each is a 150-megawatt solar project. The three agreements are not expected to impact current rates or rate schedules and will not increase the cost of service to customers.
- The Commission approved amending AT&T Michigan’s current performance measures and remedy plan, approved by the MPSC in September 2020, to extend their effective date from Dec. 31, 2022, to Dec. 31, 2024 (Case No. U-11830). These measures and benchmarks are used to review AT&T Michigan’s performance in providing nondiscriminatory access to its facilities and services, including unbundled network elements, to competitive local exchange carriers.
- The Commission adopted updates to Interconnection and Distributed Generation Standards and will submit them to the Legislative Service Bureau and the Michigan Office of Administrative Hearings and Rules for formal approvals (Case No. U-20890). Once approved, the standards will be transmitted to the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules. These updates are part of the Commission’s MI Power Grid initiative to maximize the benefits of Michigan’s transition from large, centralized power plants to clean, distributed sources of energy.
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Give us a like at www.facebook.com/MichiganPSC, and follow us if you’re so inclined. We’re expanding our outreach and hope to connect with you so we can get important consumer information out to Michigan utility customers. You can also catch us on Twitter and LinkedIn and watch videos of meetings and other content on our YouTube channel.
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Have a utility complaint, or need help with your utility service? We’re here to help. Submit your complaint or inquiry online or call 800-292-9555.
Our next regularly scheduled commission meeting is Oct. 27, 2022, at 1:30 p.m.
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The mission of the Michigan Public Service Commission is to serve the public by ensuring safe, reliable, and accessible energy and telecommunications services at reasonable rates.
Michigan Public Service Commission
517-284-8100
7109 W. Saginaw Hwy,
Lansing, MI 48917
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