95.3 / 88.5 FM Grand Rapids and 95.3 FM Muskegon
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Michigan’s Attorney General steps in reducing Consumers Energy’s gas rate increase

Dana Nessel, Michigan Attorney General
Dave Trumpie-Trumpie Photography
/
michigan.gov
Dana Nessel, Michigan Attorney General

Settlement limits increase from proposed 7.8% to 3.9% for residential customers.

In west Michigan, Consumers Energy provides natural gas services to users in Allegan and southern Kent and Ottawa counties. Across the state it serves 1.8 million natural gas customers

In December 2022, Consumers requested a $212 million revenue increase with the Michigan Public Service Commission. That included a proposed $2 monthly service charge. All told, a rate increase of 7.8% for residential customers.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel investigated the proposed rate increase determining the amount exceeded sufficient revenues. Nessel gave testimony that $52.7 million would continue providing safe and reliable natural gas service and allow Consumers Energy to perform repairs and system upgrades.

As part of its settlement with the MPSC, Consumers Energy waved the $2 monthly service charge.

The overall natural gas rate increase is 3.9% for residential customers.

Patrick joined WGVU Public Media in December, 2008 after eight years of investigative reporting at Grand Rapids' WOOD-TV8 and three years at WYTV News Channel 33 in Youngstown, Ohio. As News and Public Affairs Director, Patrick manages our daily radio news operation and public interest television programming. An award-winning reporter, Patrick has won multiple Michigan Associated Press Best Reporter/Anchor awards and is a three-time Academy of Television Arts & Sciences EMMY Award winner with 14 nominations.