News and Information

Electric Cap Expanded Under Bill
(MIRS, May 11, 2010)
The 10 percent cap on the amount of business alternate energy suppliers can siphon from Consumers Energy and DTE Energy would expand to 25 percent under legislation sponsored by Sen. Wayne KUIPERS (R-Holland) and Rep. Roy SCHMIDT (D-Grand Rapids).

The limits, put into law as part of the state's energy reform package of 2008 have been the target of competitive energy suppliers. The bills are SB 1317 and HB 6127 .

"Electric rates have skyrocketed since Michigan eliminated competition in 2008, are the highest in the Midwest and, for the first time in years, are even higher than the national average," said Barry CARGILL , executive director of the Customer Choice Coalition. "The bipartisan sponsorship of these bills will begin reintroducing competition into the electric system, and help hold down rates that are crippling Michigan."

Bills would allow more customers to buy electricity from cheapersources; 547 on waiting list to buy power from someone other than Consumers
(Jackson Citizen Patriot, May 10, 2010)

A bipartisan group of state lawmakers aims to weaken the “monopoly” large utilities enjoy so morebusinesses and schools can purchase electricity from cheaper sources.

A component of the energy reform law signed in 2008 restricts competition to 10 percent of the sales of thestate’s two largest utilities: Consumers Energy and Detroit Edison.

When the law was enacted, 3 percent of Consumers’ customers were buying from alternative providers. Tenmonths later, it hit the 10-percent cap. (full article)

Customer Choice Coalition applauds House and Senate bills expanding electric competition
Only competition can curb huge rate hikes hurting Michigan families, businesses, governments

May 6, 2010

LANSING , Mich. – Sen. Wayne D. Kuipers, R-Holland, and Rep. Roy Schmidt, D-Grand Rapids, introduced legislation this week that would open Michigan's electric system to increased competition, reducing the monopoly power utilities have been using to dramatically raise rates since passage of the state's electric remonopolization act in 2008.

“Electric rates have skyrocketed since Michigan eliminated competition in 2008, are the highest in the Midwest and, for the first time in years, are even higher than the national average,” said Barry Cargill, executive director of the Customer Choice Coalition. “The bipartisan sponsorship of these bills will begin reintroducing competition into the electric system, and help hold down rates that are crippling Michigan.”

(Read the full press release)
Energy Information Agency Rate Chart

Groups applaud bills expanding electric competition
(MiBiz, May 6,2010)

Chamber: Businesses forced to pay higher costs; cap must be raisedGRAND RAPIDS – The Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce and the Customer Choice Coalitionapplaud Sen. Wayne Kuipers (R-Holland) and Rep. Roy Schmidt (D-Grand Rapids) for introducing legislationto open Michigan’s electric system to increased competition and ease the restrictions on choice that have led tohigher rates since the re-regulation of the electric energy market in 2008.

The 2008 legislation limited competition to 10% of each utility’s load. That limit was hit in both utilities’ territoryin 2009. The Michigan Public Service Commissioner reports long waiting lists of customers seeking to usealternative providers. Kuipers’ legislation will lift the cap to 25 percent. (full article)

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