Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel wants what she calls "some shared sacrifice," from utilities to limit how much they get back from customers for pandemic-related costs.
Nessel wants the Michigan Public Service Commission to limit utilities recovery of pandemic-related costs to 80%. She also says they should accelerate expected refunds due to things like lower electric and gas costs.
She says it's not fair to let utilities simply pass on all these costs to customers - many of whom are in financial trouble. She also wants utilities to postpone non-critical projects.
Consumers Energy says it is sharing the sacrifice, with losses of up to $16 million a month as long as strong social distancing measures are in place. DTE Energy says it shares the attorney general's concern for those affected by the pandemic, and urges customers to take advantage of bill pay assistance programs.
