The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) today submitted its 2008 annual report to Governor Jennifer M. Granholm and the Michigan Legislature.

"This year was an exciting and challenging one at the Commission culminating with the passage of the Clean, Renewable, and Efficient Energy Act and an amendment to the originating act for the Commission," said MPSC Chairman Orjiakor Isiogu.  "The new statutes provide an opportunity for the Commission to do its part in assisting the citizens and businesses of Michigan to become more energy-wise consumers and focus on clean, renewable, and efficient energy sources."

Highlights of the report include the following:

·         The Commission maintained its commitment to address the needs of Michigan's low‑income and senior citizens, awarding $62 million  for low-income energy assistance and $10 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 also awarded $18,982,559 from the Low-Income and Energy Efficiency Fund for Michigan energy efficiency grants.

·         The Commission continued its consumer outreach efforts by hosting statewide consumer forums, making its Commission meetings available via podcast, handling 36,572 calls on its toll-free line, and assisting consumers and businesses with more than 14,091 electric and natural gas and 4,508 telecommunications complaints and inquiries.  In addition, the Commission initiated a program to assist small businesses with regulated utility complaints.  This new program processed 1,747 of these types of complaints.

·         The Commission issued 406 orders, consisting of 128 telecommunications, 126 electric, 72 natural gas, and 79 motor carrier orders.

·         Among the orders issued by the Commission during 2008 were approvals of the construction of 21 new natural gas pipelines, and issuance of one certificate of public convenience and necessity for the construction of an electric transmission line.

·         The Commission also revised the retail natural gas rates of Consumers Energy Company and the retail electric rates of Consumers Energy Company, We Energies, and The Detroit Edison Company. 

·         The Commission revised a number of its administrative rulemakings, including its Commercial and Industrial Billing Practices Governing Electric and Gas, Technical Standards for Electric Service, Gas Safety Standards, and Transfers of Telephone Licenses.

·         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 in 2007 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 Commission is still awaiting the Legislature's approval of this process.

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

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