The Michigan Public Service Commission has reduced an electric rate increase set by Consumers Energy.
Consumers originally sought a rate increase of $173 million in March of last year, but later lowered it to $148 million.
After not hearing from the state, they self implemented an increase of $130 million in October, effectively adding $2.46 to customers' monthly bills.
Nick Assendelft is the spokesperson for the Michigan Public Service Commission. He says the commission has since settled on a $65.8 million increase.
“The numbers were crunched and everything was verified and checked and different parties weighed in on it; we determined that $65.8 million is what the rate increase should be it was the most fair and most prudent rate increase.”
Assendelft said customers will see an increase of a $1.87 on their monthly bills.
He said the rate increase provides funding for tree trimming, grid modernization, and other improvements to Consumers Energy reliability.