2023 Senate Bill 272

Public utilities: public service commission; regulation of utilities by the public service commission; modify.

A bill to amend 1939 PA 3, entitled “An act to provide for the regulation and control of public and certain private utilities and other services affected with a public interest within this state; to provide for alternative energy suppliers; to provide for licensing; to include municipally owned utilities and other providers of energy under certain provisions of this act; to create a public service commission and to prescribe and define its powers and duties; to abolish the Michigan public utilities commission and to confer the powers and duties vested by law on the public service commission; to provide for the powers and duties of certain state governmental officers and entities; to provide for the continuance, transfer, and completion of certain matters and proceedings; to abolish automatic adjustment clauses; to prohibit certain rate increases without notice and hearing; to qualify residential energy conservation programs permitted under state law for certain federal exemption; to create a fund; to encourage the utilization of resource recovery facilities; to prohibit certain acts and practices of providers of energy; to allow for the securitization of stranded costs; to reduce rates; to provide for appeals; to provide appropriations; to declare the effect and purpose of this act; to prescribe remedies and penalties; and to repeal acts and parts of acts,” by amending section 6t (MCL 460.6t), as added by 2016 PA 341.

House Fiscal Agency Analysis

The bill would amend Public Act 3 of 1939, the Public Service Commission Law, to require an electric utility's integrated resource plan (IRP) to address its impact on climate change, equity, and reliability, among other specified subjects. The bill also would require an IRP, before approval by the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC), to demonstrate that a utility has made progress on eliminating greenhouse gas emissions and adverse health effects related to power generation and reduced harms to individuals in environmental justice communities.