Competitive Procurement

New Competitive Procurement Activities Pursuant to April 30, 2026 Order

In 2019, the Commission launched the MI Power Grid initiative to maximize the benefits of the transition to clean distributed energy resources for Michigan residents and businesses. Competitive procurement fell under the integrating emerging technologies area of focus through that initiative. In an August 20, 2020, Order in Case No. U-20852, the Commission directed Commission Staff (Staff) to convene a competitive bidding collaborative with the objective of developing guidelines that ensure strong, technology-neutral market response and value to ratepayers, through transparent, non-discriminatory access, certainty and fairness in bidding processes. Through the workgroup process and several rounds of comments, the Commission ultimately adopted the competitive procurement guidelines in its September 9, 2021, Order in Case No. U-20852. In this same Order, the Commission stated that Staff shall issue a survey to rate-regulated utilities, developers, and stakeholders to obtain feedback regarding the performance of the competitive procurement guidelines and any suggested improvements or modifications no later than September 9, 2026.

In its April 30th order, the Commission ordered Staff to convene a workgroup to address potential revisions to the Competitive Procurement Guidelines for Rate-Regulated Electric Utilities. A workgroup session will take place June 15, 2026 from 9am to Noon.

Workgroup Session

June 15, 2026 (TELECONFERENCE ONLY)

Staff Presentation | EIBC Presentation | MEGA Presentation

Next Steps

• Straw proposal attached to April 30, 2026 Order
• Informal comments and redlines are due by July 15, 2026 to harlowj@michigan.gov
• Revised Competitive Procurement Guidelines posted to U-20852 by August 14, 2026.
• Formal comments to U-20852 by September 15, 2026

Previous 2019 Competitive Procurement Activities Pursuant to MI Power Grid

• MPSC competitive bid guidelines approved for renewable energy plans in U-15806 (existing guidelines approved in 2008)
• DTE Certificate of Need order provides guidance on avoiding limitations in RFPs used in competitive bids (U-18419)
• MPSC approved competitive solicitation for new solar in Consumers Energy's integrated resource plan (U-20165)
• MPSC provided guidance to DTE Energy in renewable energy plan case (U-18232) re: competitive procurement; further review in DTE's integrated resource plan
• U-20852 - Commission launched competitive procurement workgroup to develop recommended competitive bidding rules or guidance that also align with the comprehensive planning processes being developed through the MI Power Grid collaborative in Case No. U-20633. The Commission's objective for the Competitive Procurement Workgroup is to ensure strong, technology-neutral market response and value for ratepayers though transparency, non-discriminatory access, certainty, and fairness in bidding processes.

Previous MI Power Grid Timeline

• October 1, 2020 - Staff Strawman Posted
• October 30, 2020 - Comments due on Strawman and MCL 460.6(t)6 Options
  • Comments on Strawman
• April 30, 2021 - Comments due on 2nd Strawman 
  • Comments on Strawman
• June 22, 2021 - Competitive Procurement Staff Guidance Document in U-20852
• July 2, 2021 - Order in U-20852
• July 30, 2021 - Comments Filed
• August 13, 20201 - Reply Comments Due

Previous Workgroup Sessions

March 17, 2021 (TELECONFERENCE ONLY)

Agenda | Presentation 1 | Presentation 2 | Recording 

February 18, 2021 (TELECONFERENCE ONLY)

Agenda | Presentation | Recording

January 12, 2021 (TELECONFERENCE ONLY)

Agenda | Presentation | Recording

October 22, 2020 (TELECONFERENCE ONLY)

Agenda | Staff Presentation | Consumers Presentation | DTE Presentation | I&M Presentation | Recording

September 14, 2020 (TELECONFERENCE ONLY)

Agenda | Staff Presentation | LBNL Presentation | Recording 

Staff Lead

Jesse Harlow

Sign up for Competitive Procurement updates