Statistics from the Citizens Utility Board of Michigan 2022 Utility Performance Report
DTE customers experience some of the worst power restoration times in the country with near-constant rate hikes. The status quo is not working for Michigan families. We must hold DTE and Consumers accountable for providing clean, affordable, and reliable energy.
Michigan has some of the worst service, highest rates, and least reliable power grids in the country
Michigan has the worst reliability and the highest energy costs in the Midwest and is among the worst in the country — with constant power outages thanks to the investor-owned monopoly utility DTE Energy.
Michigan has one of the nation’s least reliable power grids. Extreme weather events brought on by climate change will only become more frequent, so it is increasingly important to have a reliable power grid. Yet in Michigan, being stuck in the dark is a common occurrence — even though our outages are more frequent than states with the most extreme weather-related outages.
Michigan has the second-worst restoration time per outage in the nation — even on days without major storm events, according to the independent Citizens Utility Board of Michigan (CUB).
When the power goes out power outages, Michiganders suffer
For a new mom with a fridge full of breast milk that’s gone to waste, a family struggling to put food on the table left with spoiled groceries, a child whose medicine needs refrigeration, or an elderly resident who depends on electricity to run medical equipment that keeps them alive — one power outage is all it takes to cause turmoil.
Power restoration in Michigan takes an average of 156 minutes on days without major storm events (among the worst restoration times in the country) and some outages last more than 6 days. DTE’s outage times are unacceptable.
Michigan’s rank for highest energy costs in the nation
12th
Energy expenses per year for the average Michigan household
$2,055
Percentage of median income spent on energy costs in Michigan
3.22%
Percentage of median income spent on energy costs in the U.S.
2.83%
Despite a lack of improvements on service, DTE and Consumers raise our rates almost every year while their shareholders see massive profits
DTE’s latest rate increase request was for $456 million just four months after they raised our rates by $368 million in 2023.
DTE and Consumers have raised our rates by nearly a billion dollars over the last five years all while raking in record profits. When will we see that money go to improvements in service?
DTE and Consumers give big to politicians in Lansing who are supposed to hold them accountable
DTE and Consumers have a history of donating to the same lawmakers in Lansing that are supposed to hold them accountable. In 2021, utilities shelled out over $23,000 to the House Energy Committee ahead of oversight hearings and DTE and Consumers contributed to 96% of the Michigan legislature’s campaigns.
DTE makes campaign contributions to Lansing politicians to avoid accountability and maintain the status quo. We get higher energy bills and power outages while DTE shareholders continue to make massive profits.
How to help hold DTE and Consumers accountable for high rates and poor service
Sign the petition: It’s time to hold our utility companies accountable
What is Michigan LCV doing about DTE and Consumers?
Shining a spotlight on Michigan utilities’ poor track-records
We know the best way to keep public pressure on corporations is to keep their bad deeds in the news cycle. We work with journalists across the state to keep utility accountability top of mind in the newsroom so households across the state can stay informed.
Advocating for legislation that compensates customers when the power goes out and moves us toward cleaner, more affordable energy
Michigan LCV is advocating for stronger accountability for our utilities in a number of ways, like bills to provide relief to customers during outages like automatic bill credits, greater transparency on bills, and requirements for utilities to invest in grid improvements.
A win for utility accountability: Michigan LCV was instrumental in passing the Clean Energy and Jobs Act, which creates new standards for clean energy use in Michigan and includes regulations for utility companies like:
- Requiring utilities to dedicate at least 25% and 35% of total weatherization and energy efficiency programs in environmental justice communities
- Requiring utilities to recruit and train people from low-income communities to do weatherization and energy efficiency work with good-paying union jobs
- Increases Michigan’s rooftop solar cap from 1% to 10%, allowing more Michiganders to create their own clean, affordable energy at home
Keeping the Community Informed
We make sure the public knows they have a say. We work to inform and activate Michiganders to engage with the Michigan Public Service Commission to make their voices heard on proposals to increase our rates or build new, expensive fossil fuel plants. Since 2019, we’ve helped 5,277 Michiganders make their voices heard.