JACKSON, MI -Michigan's electric rates are higher compared to the national average and are making it hard for businesses within the state to compete, says a group that advocates for further electric competition.
Energy Choice Now, which released a fresh report this week, considers DTE Energy and Consumers Energy are monopolizing the marketplace, causing electrical rates to be greater than states that allow more choice.
DTE Energy
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The state's 2008 energy-reform law restricts opponents of state-controlled utilities -- the two biggest being Consumers Energy and DTE Energy -- to 10 percent of the marketplace.
"We're really expecting that both the Michigan Legislature as well as the Governor's office look in the actual facts of what has happened to electric rates," McNulty Saxton said. "(Businesses) are actually expecting that legislators hear their plea for relief."
For industrial customers, that cost went from 7.85 cents per kilowatt hour to 8.17 cents per kilowatt hour, growing by 4.1 percent.
States which have competitive deregulation of the electric systems are paying a higher cost and don't have exactly the same reliability as Michigan, he said.
"Michigan electric customers gain from powerful regulation, improved electric reliability and important investments in our electric system," Bishop said.
Consumers Energy is against raising the limit on competitors, saying that it would help a smattering of consumers as the remainder would need to pay up to $400 million more annually.
The present law also has allowed the utility to make considerable investments in electrical reliability and clean air initiatives, among other things, officials say.
Consumers Energy also has duties that opponents do not, they say. Consumers has a legal duty to perform as such, if a supplier can't produce the power to the client.
DTE Energy's bills for the customers are 30 percent lower compared to the national average, said spokesman Alejandro Bodipo-Memba.
He agrees that complete deregulation isn't advantageous for businesses and Michigan families and said states which have gone that direction are now facing higher prices and not as electrical reliability.
"We continue to work with our families and companies to keep prices down," Bodipo-Memba said.
Energy Choice Now, which released a fresh report this week, considers DTE Energy and Consumers Energy are monopolizing the marketplace, causing electrical rates to be greater than states that allow more choice.
DTE Energy
File picture
The state's 2008 energy-reform law restricts opponents of state-controlled utilities -- the two biggest being Consumers Energy and DTE Energy -- to 10 percent of the marketplace.
"We're really expecting that both the Michigan Legislature as well as the Governor's office look in the actual facts of what has happened to electric rates," McNulty Saxton said. "(Businesses) are actually expecting that legislators hear their plea for relief."
For industrial customers, that cost went from 7.85 cents per kilowatt hour to 8.17 cents per kilowatt hour, growing by 4.1 percent.
States which have competitive deregulation of the electric systems are paying a higher cost and don't have exactly the same reliability as Michigan, he said.
"Michigan electric customers gain from powerful regulation, improved electric reliability and important investments in our electric system," Bishop said.
Consumers Energy is against raising the limit on competitors, saying that it would help a smattering of consumers as the remainder would need to pay up to $400 million more annually.
The present law also has allowed the utility to make considerable investments in electrical reliability and clean air initiatives, among other things, officials say.
Consumers Energy also has duties that opponents do not, they say. Consumers has a legal duty to perform as such, if a supplier can't produce the power to the client.
DTE Energy's bills for the customers are 30 percent lower compared to the national average, said spokesman Alejandro Bodipo-Memba.
He agrees that complete deregulation isn't advantageous for businesses and Michigan families and said states which have gone that direction are now facing higher prices and not as electrical reliability.
"We continue to work with our families and companies to keep prices down," Bodipo-Memba said.