January 2, 2008

The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) today announced it will hold a public hearing in Lansing at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 6, on proposed standards dealing with net metering, fuel sources and fossil fuel generation efficiency.

The federal Energy Policy Act of 2005 directed states to consider whether to implement these standards by Aug. 8.  Specifically, the Act proposed for each electric utility to:

• make available on request net metering service to any electric consumer that the electric utility serves;
• develop a plan to minimize dependence on one fuel source and to ensure that electric energy it sells to consumers is generated using a diverse range of fuels and technologies, including renewable technologies; and
• develop and implement a 10-year plan to increase the efficiency of its fossil fuel generation.

The MPSC's public hearing, to be held at the Commission's Lansing office, located at 6545 Mercantile Way, will provide interested persons with an opportunity to comment on these proposed standards.

Interested persons may also submit written comments on the proposed standards. Comments must be received by the MPSC by 5 p.m. on February 27.  Comments may be e-mailed to mpscedockets@michigan.gov . Written comments should be mailed to the Executive Secretary, Michigan Public Service Commission, P.O. Box 30221, Lansing, MI 48909.  All comments should reference Case No. U-15316. All information submitted to the Commission in this matter will become public information, available on the Commission's Web site, and subject to disclosure.

The MPSC is an agency within the Department of Labor & Economic Growth.

Case No. U-15316