The MPSC has established workgroups with the purpose of investigating specific issues or developing and streamlining various regulatory activities. These workgroups can include participants from MPSC Staff, regulated utilities, industry experts, utility customers and others and are open to the public. On this page you will find information about current MPSC workgroups and about opportunities for participation.
The goal of the Benefit-Cost Analysis Tool Collaborative is to assist in the development of a tool that will establish a new platform for benefit-cost analysis (BCA) for distributed energy resources (DERs). The tool is being built by E4TheFuture, ICF, Recurve, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory project partners to align with the National Standard Practice Manual (NSPM) that will be capable of modeling Michigan’s jurisdiction-specific test (JST).
This workgroup is intended to provide an ongoing forum through which interested parties can discuss technical issues related to the electric utility interconnection process, including annual reporting requirements, cost allocation, the application of standards, and other technical topics.
Public Act 166 of 2022 directed the Michigan Public Service Commission to engage an outside consulting firm to examine the feasibility of nuclear power generation in Michigan. Public Act 218 of 2022 provides for the parameters of the nuclear feasibility study. In response, on March 24, 2023, the Commission issued an order Case No. U-21358 establishing the Nuclear Feasibility Study workgroup.
The Low-Income Energy Policy Board guides the work of the Energy Affordability and Accessibility Collaborative and the Energy Waste Reduction Low-Income Workgroup and connects this work to other state agencies and efforts. With a focus on effectuating affordability, equity, access, and environmental justice, the group's goal is to connect the expertise, experience, and perspectives of members and provide recommendations to the Commission to better serve low-income and vulnerable households with their energy needs. Board membership is by invitation and meetings are open to the public.
The Energy Affordability and Accessibility Collaborative is an open, working group committed to facilitating discussion and obtaining input from a broad range of stakeholders on existing and emerging policy issues related to energy assistance, customer protections and low-income energy waste reduction services. The group's goal is to connect the expertise, experience, and perspectives of participants and provide recommendations to the Commission to better serve low-income and vulnerable households with their energy needs.
The Low Income Workgroup is collaboratively working to identify and address low income specific energy issues, energy waste reduction measures, and create new initiatives that can reduce the cost of the energy burden on Michigan's low income energy consumers and communities. With the goal of connecting and combining the expertise, experience, and perspectives of the participating groups, the workgroup is attempting to bridge gaps between program offerings, facilitate more complete delivery of energy efficiency programs, and seek opportunities to better serve low income single family residences and multifamily buildings.
The goal of the Energy Optimization Collaborative is to make recommendations for improving energy waste reduction and efficient electrification plans for energy providers, provide program evaluation and support, and promote economic development and job creation in Michigan by connecting Michigan manufacturers, suppliers and vendors with energy waste reduction programs.
Public Act 231 of 2023 requires the Michigan Public Service Commission to periodically conduct Energy Waste Reduction (EWR), Demand Response (DR), and Efficient Electrification (EFEL) potential studies to support modeling scenarios and assumptions used by electric utilities in Integrated Resource Plans filed before the MPSC.
Public Act 87 of 2021 directed the Michigan Public Service Commission to conduct a study into the potential for renewable natural gas development in the state. In part, PA 87 directs the Commission to identify and engage interested stakeholders in the development of the study. The Commission issued a report to the legislature on the Renewable Natural Gas Study on Sept. 28, 2022.
The Commission directed Staff to work with interested stakeholders to discuss issues related to demand response aggregation.
Public Act 341 updated Michigan’s energy laws relating to utility rate cases, electric choice, certificate of necessity, and electric capacity resource adequacy, and established an integrated resource planning process. Public Act 342 updated Michigan’s energy laws relating to renewable energy, energy waste reduction, and distributed generation, and allows utilities to implement on-bill financing programs.
MI Power Grid is a focused, multi-year stakeholder initiative supported by Governor Whitmer and the MPSC to maximize the benefits of the transition to clean, distributed energy resources for Michigan residents and businesses.
