Nessel seeks 85% reduction in ‘bloated, unjustified’ DTE gas rate request 

BY KYLE DAVIDSON, MICHIGAN ADVANCE

LANSING—Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel on Friday announced that she’d filed testimony on DTE Energy’s request to increase its natural gas rates, with Nessel seeking to slash the $237.5 million request by 85%.

DTE, one of the largest energy and natural gas companies in the state, filed its request to increase natural gas rates in November, seeking a 10% overall increase in rates across its customer base. It filed its last request for a gas rate increase in November 2024.

Nessel’s filings included testimony from four industry experts who asked the Michigan Public Service Commission, which regulates energy companies in the state, to limit the increase to $34.8 million, and to prioritize affordability for customers, fleet electrification studies and payment options for low-income and vulnerable customers.

“DTE is raking in record profits while turning around and asking Michigan families to foot the bill for bloated, unjustified costs,” Nessel said in a statement. “As no surprise, DTE has once again fattened its rate hike request with excessive and unwarranted expenses—this time by 85%. I implore the MPSC to stand up for Michigan ratepayers, prioritize affordability for customers, and not rubber-stamp the demands of utility corporations.”

Nessel’s filing comes shortly after DTE filed a separate request seeking an increase to its electric rates. The energy company faced swift criticism from Nessel alongside lawmakers and energy and environmental advocates, as the request came days after its previous rate hike was approved.

“We recognize that affordability remains a critical concern for the families and businesses we serve and our team works diligently to balance necessary infrastructure investments with keeping bills as low as possible,” DTE Director of Corporate Communications Jill Wilmot told Michigan Advance in an email on Friday.

She noted that customers will not see an increase to their rates until the commission makes a final decision on the case.

“We know that natural gas plays a vital role in our customers’ everyday lives—from heating homes to cooking meals,” Wilmot said. “This request allows us to continue investing in the safety and reliability of our system, while keeping costs low for the customers who depend on us.”

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This coverage was republished from Michigan Advance pursuant to a Creative Commons license.