May 15, 2025
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The MPSC today approved SEMCO Energy Gas Co.’s application for approval of a certificate of public convenience and necessity to construct and operate the Keweenaw Connector Pipeline in the western UP (Case No. U-21780).
The new 30-mile, 12-inch steel natural gas transmission pipeline will run between Three Lakes and Baraga in Baraga County. Today’s order approves the route and type of construction of the project and makes required findings about the project’s environmental impact under Public Act 9 of 1929.
Optimizing gas supply deliverability is a key goal of the MPSC’s Statewide Energy Assessment, a major report the MPSC issued in the aftermath of the 2019 Michigan energy emergency when a fire at a Macomb County natural gas compressor station threatened to disrupt statewide natural gas delivery during a polar vortex cold snap.
The new pipeline will provide system redundancy and mitigate supply deliverability and reliability concerns for the UP’s natural gas system. The Commission’s order approves a settlement agreement in the case, which included SEMCO Energy Gas Co. and MPSC Staff, as well as a statement of non-objection to the settlement agreement from Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.
COMMISSION SEEKS COMMENT ON LOW-INCOME PAYMENT PILOT PROGRAMS, DEFINITION OF HOME ENERGY SECURITY
The Commission is seeking public comment from interested persons on several efforts that the MPSC and the state’s two largest utilities have undertaken in recent years to address affordability issues and the energy burden for low-income utility customers. In Case No. U-20929, the Commission seeks comment on a report that DTE Electric Co. and DTE Gas Co. submitted to MPSC Staff in January 2025 on the two companies’ payment stability plan pilot program — their version of a percentage of income payment plan, or PIPP —launched in 2022. In Case No. U-21021, the Commission seeks comment on Consumers Energy Co.’s PIPP program report. And in Case No. U-20757, the Commission seeks comment on MPSC Staff’s proposed definition of “home energy security” resulting from the work of the MPSC’s Energy Affordability and Accessibility Collaborative and the Energy Waste Reduction Low-Income workgroup. Comments should be paginated, reference the relevant docket number and be received by 5 p.m. June 14, 2025, with reply comments due by 5 p.m. June 26, 2025. Written comments may be mailed to Michigan Public Service Commission, Executive Secretary, P.O. Box 30221, Lansing, MI 48909. Electronic comments may be emailed to LARA-MPSC-Edockets@michigan.gov.
MPSC SEEKS COMMENT FROM TELEPHONE PROVIDERS ON TIMING AND FORMAT OF INFORMATION FOR PROVIDING UPDATED MAPPING OF WHERE BASIC TELEPHONE SERVICE IS OFFERED IN MICHIGAN
The MPSC today commenced a proceeding aimed at providing updated maps of where basic local exchange phone service (BLES) is available in Michigan amid the transition from regulated landline phone service to unregulated services (Case No. U-21869). The MPSC is required under the Michigan Telecommunications Act to maintain a database of providers in each exchange that provide BLES service. The Commission is seeking comments regarding the filing of updated geographic information on where BLES is available within an exchange and to update that information whenever providers modify their BLES service area, whether that involves part or all of an exchange, as well as areas where they continue to offer BLES but are no longer offering BLES to new customers. Today’s order kicks off the proceeding and seeks comment on the timing and format of the data to be provided, to ensure it’s filed in a consistent, accurate and usable format. Comments, which should be paginated and reference Case No. U-21869, must be received by 5 p.m. June 13, 2025. Comments should be mailed to Executive Secretary, Michigan Public Service Commission, P.O. Box 30221, Lansing, MI 48909 or emailed to LARA-MPSC-Edockets@michigan.gov.
COMMISSION OKS DTE ELECTRIC CO. SPECIAL CONTRACTS FOR SOLAR ENERGY WITH CITY OF DETROIT AND UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
The MPSC approved two special solar energy contracts between DTE Electric Co. and, respectively, the City of Detroit and the University of Michigan (U of M). The Commission approved DTE Electric’s application for approval of a special contract for the City of Detroit Phase 2 Solar Park (Case No. U-21361), a 6.8-megawatt (MW) facility in the city’s Greenfield Neighborhood, expected to be in operation in the third quarter of 2027. The project, through DTE Electric’s voluntary green pricing program MIGreenPower, is part of Detroit’s Solar Neighborhoods program that aims to repurpose mostly vacant lots into clean energy facilities that power municipal buildings. The Commission also approved the engineering, procurement and construction master service agreement and the master supply agreement for solar panel modules. The Commission also approved a special contract between DTE Electric and U of M for an 80-MW solar facility, yet to be announced, for 161,000 megawatt-hours annually for up to 35 years. (Case No. U-21361). Contracts for specific solar facilities to fulfill U of M’s contracts will be presented to the Commission for approval in upcoming filings.
MPSC APPROVES DTE ELECTRIC CO. SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ON RENEWABLE ENERGY PLAN, SETS SYMPOSIUM AND WORKGROUP
The MPSC today approved a settlement agreement on DTE Electric Co.’s amended renewable energy plan that resolves all issues in the matter (Case No. U-21662). Among other terms of the settlement agreement, DTE Electric agrees to target wind resource additions of 200 megawatts (MW) in 2028, 400 MW in 2029 and 600 MW in 2030, as well as 150 MW of solar through 2030. DTE Electric also agrees to keep its renewable energy revenue recovery mechanism surcharge at $0 per meter for all customer classes; the utility may address raising the surcharge, if necessary, in its next amended REP filing or an REP reconciliation, as permitted by Public Act 235. The Commission also approved a request made as part of the settlement agreement for the MPSC to hold a symposium for all rate-regulated utilities by June 7, 2025, to evaluate the calculation of power supply cost recovery transfer prices. In addition, the Commission approved a request for the MPSC to establish a workgroup by June 7 to revise the definition of on-peak hours for the determination of incentive renewable energy credits and issue a report to the Commission by Sept. 1, 2025.
MPSC APPROVES STAND UP WIRELESS’S APPLICATION FOR EXPANDED ELIGIBLE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CARRIER SERVICE AREA
The MPSC approved Global Connection Inc. of America, doing business as Stand Up Wireless, to expand its eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) service area (Case No. U-16577). The company’s ETC areas include all areas of the state of Michigan and explicitly adds access for Michigan’s 12 federally recognized Indian tribes across both peninsulas. The Commission first approved Stand Up’s ETC status for the purpose of providing Lifeline service in 2012.
MSPC DENIES DTM MICHIGAN LATERAL CO. PETITION FOR REHEARING
The MPSC denied DTM Michigan Lateral Co.’s (DMLC) petition for a rehearing of an order the Commission issued in February 2025 approving cost recovery through a rate increase for firm transportation service on its wet header system (Case No. U-21525). DMLC sought to recover costs that it said were prudently incurred but which it was unable to recover owing to “regulatory lag” in the case before the Commission’s Feb. 11 order. DTE Gas Co. and the Michigan Department of Attorney General intervened in the case, opposing additional cost recovery.
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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