March 3, 2008

The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) today submitted its 2007 annual report to Governor Jennifer M. Granholm and the Michigan Legislature.

"The MPSC in 2007 took significant actions to protect utility customers in Michigan," said MPSC Chairman Orjiakor N. Isiogu.  "New billing rules make more low-income customers eligible for shut-off protections and give customers more time to pay their bills, and the Commission awarded $92 million in grants to assist low-income customers prevent shut-offs and make their homes more energy efficient."

Highlights of the report include the following:

• The MPSC maintained its commitment to address the needs of Michigan's low‑income and senior citizens, awarding $72 million for low-income energy assistance and $20 million for low-income energy efficiency from the Low-Income and Energy Efficiency Fund.  The awards provide immediate assistance for heating needs as well as longer term assistance in reducing future heating costs for low-income and senior citizens.
• The Commission continued its consumer outreach efforts by hosting statewide consumer forums, making its Commission meetings available via podcast, handling 32,740 calls on its toll-free telephone line, and assisting consumers and businesses with more than 9,244 electric and natural gas and 6,604 telecommunications complaints and inquiries.
• The MPSC issued 486 orders, consisting of 167 telecommunications, 165 electric, 69 natural gas, and 85 motor carrier orders.
• At the request of the City of Battle Creek and SEMCO Energy Gas Company, the Commission accepted regulatory oversight of the rates, terms, and conditions of natural gas service in the City of Battle Creek and neighboring areas.
• The MPSC also revised the retail natural gas rates of SEMCO Energy Gas Company and Consumers Energy Company and the retail electric rates of Wisconsin Public Service Corporation, Alpena Power Company, and We Energies. 
• The Commission revised a number of its administrative rulemakings, including a complete revision of its Consumer Standards and Billing Practices Governing Electric and Gas Residential Service.
• The MPSC granted regulatory approvals requested by Consumers Energy Company associated with the utility's sale of its Palisades Nuclear Power Plant.  In so doing, the Commission ordered the utility to refund $255 million to its electric ratepayers during 2007 and 2008.  The Commission estimated that the transaction will result in up to $700 million in additional energy savings over the next 15 years.
• The Commission fulfilled the statutory obligation embodied in Section 10(3) of the Uniform Video Services Local Franchise Act, 2006 PA 480 (the Act), by proposing to the Legislature a process to be added to the Act that would allow the Commission to review (1) unresolved disputes between a provider and its customer, (2) disputes between a provider and a franchising entity, and (3) disputes between providers.    

The entire report is available on the MPSC Web site:  michigan.gov/mpsc.

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