Electric distribution investments have become a major driver for recent rate case requests as investor-owned utilities (utilities) invest to improve the electric distribution system and evolve with growing customer demands. Such trends warrant a longer-term planning approach that extends beyond a one-year outlook offered in rate case proceedings. The Michigan Public Service Commission (Commission) has ordered several utilities to file electric distribution system plans (DSPs) at various times beginning in 2018.
Between June 2019 and November 2021, the Commission also held a series of workgroup sessions under the MI Power Grid initiative to consider distribution planning reporting considerations, among other topics. Detailed information from the distribution workgroup process is available on the Commission’s MI Power Grid Phase 1 - Electric Distribution Planning webpage. Additional workgroup efforts discussed Phase II - Integration of Resource/Distribution/Transmission Planning.
The key components of DSPs have evolved as utilities and interested parties gain more experience. The Commission has provided guidance to improve DSPs filings from utilities.
The October 11, 2017 Commission Orders in Case Nos. U-17990 and U-18014 requested discussions of short-term prioritization and long-term considerations and set four over-arching electric distribution system objectives for DSPs: safety, reliability and resiliency, cost-effectiveness and affordability, and accessibility.
The November 21, 2018 Commission Order in Case No. U-20147 summarized Staff's Michigan Distribution Planning Framework report and set future guidance along with next steps for DSPs.
The September 11, 2019 Commission Order in Case No. U-20147 set additional guidance and requirements for the Commission Staff, focused on the value of resilience and the desire for utilities to integrate a long-term vision in future DSPs.
The August 20, 2020 Commission Order in Case No. U-20147 discussed Staff’s Electric Distribution Planning Stakeholder Process report and provided guidance for stakeholder engagement and IRP alignment.
The September 8, 2022 Commission Order in Case No. U-20147 discussed storm reliability data, distributed energy resource metrics, and summarized Staff’s Benefit Cost Analysis report and next steps.
The September 26, 2024 Commission Order in Case No. U-20147 discussed the 2023 DSPs and introduced a Staff Straw Proposal in an effort to clarify and improve the distribution planning process. Under Commission directive, a Staff Collaborative Session took place on December 17, 2024.
The July 10, 2025 Commission Order in Case No. U-20147 set DSP comment and reply dates for Alpena, NSP-W, and UPPCO; approved the DSP filing guidelines and a protective order; set hosting capacity map update requirements for DTE Electric and Consumers Energy; and set future DSP filing dates for utilities.
The purpose of the approved filing guidelines is to facilitate a standard approach for future DSP filings submitted by each utility while the goal of an electric DSP is to provide the Commission, Commission Staff, and other interested parties a comprehensive understanding of anticipated utility needs, priorities, and spending outside of the contested rate case process, and to allow such parties to properly evaluate significant and necessary investments to the utilities’ aging distribution systems.
DSPs must be filed every three years, or as otherwise ordered by the Commission, to an appropriate docket, and include a five-year investment plan and an extended (10-15 year) outlook from the date of the filing. The plan must address specific topics that can be found in the filing guidelines. Initial comments responding to filed DSPs will be accepted 90 days after the utility DSP filing and reply comments will be accepted 30 days after the initial comment period.
UMERC – January 30, 2026 | U-21541 Order and U-20147 Order
DTE Electric – June 30, 2026 | U-20147 Order
Consumers Energy – November 30, 2026 | U-20147 Order
I&M – April 30, 2027 | U-20147 Order
NSP-W – September 30, 2027 | U-20147 Order
Alpena – February 29, 2028 | U-20147 Order
UPPCO – July 31, 2028 | U-20147 Order
Alpena – U-20147 Order
Initial comments due August 29, 2025.
Reply comments due September 30, 2025.
NSP-W – U-20147 Order
Initial comments due September 30, 2025.
Reply comments due October 30, 2025.
UPPCO – U-20147 Order
Initial comments due October 30, 2025.
Reply comments due November 26, 2025.
Filed Distribution Plans
|
Company |
Filing |
Plan Period |
Date Filed |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Alpena |
Alpena’s Five Year Distribution Investment and Maintenance Plan |
2024-2028 |
9/30/2024 |
|
Consumers Energy |
Consumers’ Electric Distribution Infrastructure Investment Plan |
2024-2028 |
9/27/2023 |
|
Consumers Energy |
Consumers’ Electric Distribution Infrastructure Investment Plan |
2021-2025 |
6/30/2021 |
|
Consumers Energy |
Consumers’ Electric Distribution Infrastructure Investment Plan |
2018-2022 |
4/13/2018 |
|
DTE Electric |
2023-2027 |
9/29/2023 |
|
|
DTE Electric |
2021-2025 |
9/30/2021 |
|
|
DTE Electric |
DTE's Distribution Operations Investment and Maintenance Plan |
2018-2022 |
10/5/2018 |
|
I&M |
2023-2027 |
9/29/2023 |
|
|
I&M
|
2021-2025 |
9/30/2021 |
|
|
I&M
|
2019-2023 |
4/3/2019 |
|
|
NSP-W |
2025-2029 |
9/30/2024 |
|
| UPPCO | UPPCO's Distribution Plan | 2025-2029 | 1/31/2025 |
