By Scott Bolthouse | The Huron Hub
ScottBolthouse@HuronHub.com
Posted Wednesday, July 10, 2019

After receiving a rate increase of $125 million earlier this year that raised residential consumers’ rates by seven percent, DTE filed for another $328 million rate increase Monday with the Michigan Public Service Commission.

The request would raise residential customers’ monthly bills an additional nine percent.

DTE says the rate increase is intended to pay for the company’s tree trim program, the modernization of their electrical grid and IT services that will improve customer service.

“This one comes two months after the previous approval,” said Pete Ternes, spokesperson for DTE, in a quote to Fox 2 News. “One of the things was we didn’t get everything we asked for (from the last rate case),” he said.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said today she plans to intervene in the request.

“Months after it received a rate increase from MPSC, DTE shows it is completely unconcerned about the savings accounts of its consumers. Today I’m putting them on notice: I plan to vigorously review all their filings and make certain the priority in this case is ensuring affordable energy for Michigan consumers, not dividends for their shareholders,” Nessel said.