January 23, 2025
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The Michigan Public Service Commission today approved the transportation electrification plan (TEP) filing process for regulated utilities’ comprehensive investment strategies to address the impact on the grid from the growing adoption of electric vehicles (Case No. U-21492).
The Commission approved filing requirements for TEPs and directed MPSC Staff to post the requirements to the MPSC’s website by Feb. 6. Utilities must file TEPs every two years unless otherwise ordered by the Commission.
Building on lessons learned through utility pilot programs for EVs since 2017, the Commission in early 2024 held a two-day technical conference to address opportunities and challenges in the EV and electrification space. The Commission also opened a docket (Case No. U-21538) for utilities to file TEPs, which are electric providers’ long-term strategies to address transportation electrification in their service territories and optimize the EV charging load.
At the Commission’s direction, MPSC Staff created initial TEP filing requirements in June, and received comments from interested parties including Consumers Energy Co.; DTE Electric Co.; The Ecology Center; Ford Motor Company; Michigan Electric and Gas Association; and Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council.
TEPs include planned investments, customer incentives, programs, and expenditures that are reasonably expected to address transportation electrification in the utility’s footprint during plan implementation.
Both Consumers Energy and DTE Electric have already filed TEPs but will need to file new TEPs in 2026 owing to new and additional data and requirements in the filing requirements.
COMMISSION ADOPTS GUIDANCE FOR DETERMINING ELECTRIC PROVIDERS' SHARE OF STATEWIDE ENERGY STORAGE TARGET
The Commission today established a calculation methodology to determine a utility or alternative electric supplier’s (AES) proportional share of the 2,500-megawatt minimum statewide energy storage target (Case No. U-21571) established in the 2023 update of Michigan’s energy laws.
After reviewing MPSC Staff’s earlier straw proposal and comments on it from interested parties through public engagement meetings, the Commission issued clarifications on several matters relating to the calculation methodology and directed MPSC Staff to perform the first annual calculation 30 days after the completion of capacity demonstration filings in 2025 and file the calculation in the capacity demonstration docket.
The MPSC directed all rate-regulated Michigan electric utilities to demonstrate compliance with their plan as part of their Integrated Resource Plans filed under Public Act 3 of 1939. Alternative electric suppliers shall demonstrate compliance with their plans in the capacity demonstration filings required under Public Act 3.
MPSC OKs ALPENA POWER CO.’S INTERCONNECTION PROCEDURES
The Commission today approved Alpena Power Co.’s interconnection procedures and forms reflecting 2023 updates to the state’s energy laws (Case No. U-21483). Today’s order approves Alpena’s interconnection procedures, forms, and Standard Level 4 and 5 and Non-Certified Project Interconnection Agreement. Today’s order directs Alpena to utilize the Standard Level 1, 2, and 3 Interconnection Agreement approved in the July 23, 2024, order in Case No. U-21543 for certified projects.
COMMISSION APPROVES PERMANENT BASIC LOCAL EXCHANGE SERVICE LICENSES FOR STRATUS NETWORKS, EZEE FIBER TEXAS
The MPSC granted permanent licenses to two telecommunications companies to provide basic local exchange service throughout Michigan. The Commission granted the licenses to Stratus Networks Inc. (Case No. U-21642) and Ezee Fiber Texas LLC (Case No. U-21663), finding that the two companies will expand opportunities for competition in phone service in Michigan. The Commission previously approved temporary licenses for both companies in November.
MPSC GRANTS ALTERNATIVE GAS SUPPLIER LICENSES TO THINK NATURAL GAS AND NATIONAL GAS & ELECTRIC
The Commission today approved applications from two companies seeking to operate as alternative gas suppliers (AGS) in Michigan under the state’s Natural Gas Customer Choice program. The MPSC approved an application from Think Natural Gas LLC, which serves customers in Ohio, Illinois, 10 other states and Washington, D.C. and will maintain a Michigan office at 40600 Ann Arbor Road E, Suite 201, in Plymouth (Case No. U-21807). Similarly, the MPSC approved an application from National Gas & Electric LLC, which serves customers in Pennsylvania, Ohio and six other states and will maintain a Michigan office at 3410 Belle Chase Way, Ste. 230, in Lansing (Case No. U-21820).
For information about the MPSC, visit www.michigan.gov/mpsc, sign up for its monthly newsletter or other listservs. Follow the MPSC on Facebook, X/Twitter or LinkedIn.
To look up cases from today’s meeting, access the MPSC’s E-Dockets filing system.
Watch recordings of the MPSC’s meetings on the MPSC’s YouTube channel.
DISCLAIMER: This document was prepared to aid the public’s understanding of certain matters before the Commission and is not intended to modify, supplement, or be a substitute for the Commission’s orders. The Commission’s orders are the official action of the Commission.
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