As we kick off a new year, the MPSC looks back on 2024 as another year in which the Commission’s most important work focused closely on improving energy reliability and affordability for Michiganders.

Chief among the year’s accomplishments was the completion of a first-ever comprehensive audit of the state’s two largest electric utilities, DTE Electric Co. and Consumers Energy Co., who combined serve about 4.1 million customers.

Launched in 2022 after widespread outages, the audit of the operations of the two utilities was the deepest examination the MPSC has conducted, and the results will help direct the Commission’s work to reduce the number of outages in Michigan and shorten service restoration times after storms, as well as keep residents safe from downed power lines.

You can read highlights of the audit in the MPSC’s news release on its findings. The full audit is posted in the MPSC’s Edockets system in Case No. U-21305.

The MPSC also stayed focused on energy affordability. The MPSC worked with partners in the Legislature, human service agencies and utilities on legislation signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to expand access to the Michigan Energy Assistance Program for up to 335,000 additional households.

MEAP provides energy bill assistance and self-sufficiency services for income-eligible households, and the legislation raised the income thresholds for eligibility for MEAP benefits. MEAP in 2023 aided 56,948 households to make their energy bills more affordable.

Check out more information about the MPSC’s accomplishments in our recap of 2024.

Cold weather can have a huge impact on energy bills. Michigan offers several assistance programs to help customers who are behind on their electric, natural gas, or propane/heating fuel bills. A customer may be eligible for assistance if their income falls below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level and they have:

• received a past due or shut off notice from their electric or natural gas utility, or
• have a need for home heating fuel (propane, fuel oil, wood).

Anyone who needs help paying their home heating or electric bill may call 211 for more information. In addition, the MPSC’s Get Help webpage has information on financial assistance and other resources.

In addition to assistance, there are also shutoff protections customers may qualify for, including: 

• Low-Income Winter Protection Program, which protects income-qualified customers against utility shutoffs from Nov. 1 to March 31.
• Senior Shutoff Protection, which protects customer 65 and older from utility shutoffs Nov. 1 to March 31.
• Medical Emergency Protection, which provides a 21-day shutoff hold when a customer or member of their household experiences a medical condition that would be made worse by lack of utility service. This protection may be extended up to 63 days per household member and up to a total of 126 days per household.
• Critical Care Protection, which provides shutoff protection when a disruption of utility service would be immediately life threatening to the customer or a member of their household.
• Active-Duty Military Shutoff Protection, which provides a 90-day shutoff protection for utility customers and their spouse when either is called to full-time active military service under certain circumstances.

January and February are prime months for household fires caused by portable and other supplemental home heating devices, according to the United States Fire Administration.

We hope you’ll check out our tip sheet on safety with supplemental heating sources, including electric space heaters, kerosene and gas space heaters, and fireplaces and wood-burning stoves.

A few tips for safe use of electric space heaters:

• Place them on a solid, flat surface, not on furniture, and at least three feet away from things that can burn.
• Check your space heater for cracked or damaged cords or plugs.
• Do not use an extension cord or power strip with an electric heater or run cords beneath carpets or rugs.

If you’re using a fireplace, make sure the flue is open until the fire is completely out, have your chimney cleaned regularly and inspected periodically for cracks or obstructions, and keep things that can burn away from the flames.