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What steps is the Commission taking to support affordability and protect customers?

What steps is the Commission taking to support affordability and protect customers?

  • Expanding energy assistance for households who need it most

    The MPSC oversees the Michigan Energy Assistance Program (MEAP), which helps eligible households pay for electricity, natural gas, and propane and other heating fuels. Recent changes in state law allow more funding for assistance programs, and income limits were expanded so more households can qualify. As a result, energy assistance could reach up to 150,000 households per year—three times more than in recent years.

  • Supporting energy efficiency to lower bills over time

    The MPSC has made Energy Waste Reduction (EWR) a top priority. These programs help customers use less energy through home upgrades, rebates, and education. Michigan continues to be a national leader in energy efficiency, and in 2024, EWR programs were expected to result in over a billion dollars in savings for customers. Every dollar invested in EWR returns more than twice that amount in benefits because customers use less energy and therefore pay lower bills.

  • Improving reliability to reduce outages and costs

    A more reliable grid can help customers avoid the costs and frustrations of outages, especially during severe weather. Utilities are replacing aging poles, wires, and equipment, and Michigan has significantly reduced outage durations since 2019 – more than any other state in the country. These upgrades especially benefit communities with older infrastructure and can reduce long-term maintenance costs.

  • Making assistance easier to access

    The MPSC created the Energy Affordability and Accessibility Collaborative (EAAC), bringing together residents, community organizations, utilities, and state agencies to remove barriers to assistance, simplify enrollment, and make programs easier to navigate. This includes ongoing work focused on low‑income energy efficiency, weatherization, and connecting customers to multiple support programs.

  • Building a new, long-term approach to energy affordability

    The Commission is developing new affordable payment plans designed to keep income-qualified customers’ energy costs to a manageable share of their household income. This includes a future target of limiting total energy burdens to 6% of income for eligible households. The MPSC is also working with utilities on a long-term framework for these plans, with phased implementation starting in 2026. See: U-20757 Issue Brief.

  • Strengthening oversight and transparency

    To help protect all customers, the MPSC continues to:

    • Engage in in-depth reviews of utility spending while improving tools to center these reviews on detailed analysis of costs vs.-benefits and data-driven decision making.
    • Improve rate-case processes to make filings more predictable and easier to analyze.
    • Perform detailed tracking of whether authorized spending is completed.
    • Expand opportunities for public engagement in Commission decision-making processes to build understanding of how the Commission can help address the needs of Michigan communities.
    • Provide clearer insights into utility customer service, the ability of their customers to pay their bills, and reliability trends using interactive tools such as maps and dashboards.