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The MPSC is hitting the road in June for a Commission meeting in Grand Rapids. Find out more about that meeting and more in this May edition of the monthly MPSC Spotlight e-newsletter.
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The MPSC is hitting the road for its June 6 regular Commission meeting, which will be held in Grand Rapids as part of the Commission’s work to encourage public participation and community outreach.
The Commission meeting will be in person on June 6 at 1 p.m. at Grand Valley State University’s L.V. Eberhard Center, 301 Fulton Street W. in downtown Grand Rapids. We hope to see you there. As with all of the MPSC’s regular meetings, there will be time for the public to provide input on matters before the Commission or other concerns or comments you may have. Commissioners and MPSC Staff will be on hand with information about financial assistance, energy efficiency and other resources for utility and telecommunications customers.
Holding a regular Commission meeting outside of the MPSC’s Lansing headquarters reflects the MPSC’s ongoing commitment to accessibility and community outreach on energy and telecommunications matters. This will be the second time the Commission has held a regular MPSC meeting outside of Lansing; the Commission held its first such meeting in Detroit in July 2022.
The offsite Commission meetings are in addition to issue-specific public meetings the MPSC holds to address matters including utility integrated resource planning, power outage concerns, energy assistance and implementation of Michigan’s 2023 energy laws. The Commission’s hearings on these matters and more have been held in Iron Mountain and Marquette in the Upper Peninsula as well as Grand Rapids, Saginaw, Benton Harbor, Jackson and metro Detroit in the Lower Peninsula.
Those unable to attend in person can watch the meeting via livestream on Microsoft Teams and provide comment directly to Commissioners during the public comment period; details about how to participate will be posted closer to the day of the Commission meeting at the event’s webpage.
The Commission is planning additional public engagement opportunities throughout the summer. Stay tuned for more details!
As recent tornadoes in west Michigan and high winds in the Detroit area made clear, summer storm season is here, so it’s time to make sure your household is ready to get through outages and other potential effects of severe weather.
We’ve got a lot of information that can help you keep your family safe:
- The MPSC’s Preparing for and Responding to Power Outages webpage has links to tips from the MPSC and other government agencies, including how to prepare your household and who to call if the power goes out.
- The MPSC’s power outage checklist has all the most important things you can do to make sure your family is ready for an outage, including how to protect appliances and keep food safe.
- Have a portable generator? Our safety tips can help you know how to operate it safely, outdoors and away from windows and doors so that deadly carbon monoxide fumes don’t enter your home.
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Downed power lines can kill. If you see one, stay at least 25 feet away and don’t touch anything in contact with it, including nearby ground, fences, branches and the like. Don’t call 911 to report outages, but you should call 911 and your utility if you see a downed power line.
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Commissioner Alessandra Carreon spoke at the Detroit Green Task Force Earth Day Awards event April 20 at the Union Carpenters and Millwrights Skilled Training Center in Detroit.
Created by the Detroit City Council in 2007, the task force advises the council on green principles and practices to better serve the city. The organization works to create green jobs, improve environmental policy and build a more sustainable city, and the awards honor individuals and organizations that contribute to Detroit’s sustainability.
As the event’s speaker, Commissioner Carreon discussed the MPSC's authority and decision-making process, explained the MPSC's role in supporting updates to Michigan’s energy laws enacted in 2023, acknowledged Detroit organizations that engage with the MPSC, and shared information about how the public may participate in MPSC proceedings and activities.
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Meanwhile, MPSC Equity and Inclusion Officer Shatina Jones and Community Liaison Steve Kimbrell attended an Earth Day event presented April 20 by Detroit’s Congress of Communities, a resident-led organizing and advocacy group in southwest Detroit that works to bring solutions to community challenges and support community growth. More than 200 people attended the event.
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Kimbrell and staff member Mary Wilkins from the MPSC’s Customer Assistance Division also attended the Lake Huron Veterans Benefits Fair on May 9 at the East Tawas Community Center, an event coordinated by the Iosco County Veterans Affairs Office and the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency. More than 225 veterans and their relatives attended the fair.
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The MPSC on April 25 held its annual Employee Appreciation event, recognizing outstanding effort as well as years of service from the dedicated staff supporting the MPSC’s mission to serve the public by ensuring safe, reliable, and accessible energy and telecommunications services at reasonable rates. The awards honor employees who further the work of the MPSC, go above and beyond in their jobs and demonstrate exceptional commitment to the MPSC’s work.
Julie Ginevan of the MPSC’s Energy Operations Division was named Employee of the Year. In addition, a number of other MPSC employees received special recognition, including:
- Al Freeman, Energy Resources Division (Letter of Recognition
- Bob Nichols, Regulated Energy Division (Letter of Recognition)
- Lisa Gold, Regulatory Affairs Division (Leadership Certificate)
- Lisa Kindschy, Energy Operations Division (Teamwork Certificate)
- Lynn Beck, Assistant to the Chief Operating Officer (Teamwork Coin)
- Amy Rittenhouse, Strategic Operations Division (Teamwork Coin)
- Naomi Simpson, Energy Resources Division (Certificate for Managerial Leadership)
The MPSC also recognized 29 employees for 5 or more years of service.
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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.
Tune in to our next regularly scheduled commission meeting on May 23 at 1 p.m.
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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