St. Joe-Benton Harbor News

State Senator Michele Hoitenga has introduced new legislation aimed at increasing transparency and legislative oversight in the process of utility rate increases in Michigan. The bill, known as Senate Bill 587, is co-sponsored by Senators Ed McBroom, Kevin Daley, Lana Theis, Jonathan Lindsey, and Roger Hauck.

“Michigan families and small businesses are tired of seeing their bills rise without any clear explanation from utilities or regulators,” said Hoitenga. “If a company wants to raise rates, they should have to justify every penny in public, not behind closed doors.”

The proposed legislation would require the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) to inform both the Legislature and the public before approving any rate hikes for electric, gas, or steam utilities. According to Senator Jonathan Lindsey: “Few things have a more direct and meaningful impact on the lives of all Michigan families than the cost of energy. Bringing much-needed legislative oversight to the process will give the people a real voice concerning costs and help rein in out-of-control rate increases for energy needed to heat our homes and fuel our economy.”

Under SB 587, the MPSC would need to provide a detailed report about each proposed increase—including justification and anticipated consumer impact—to House and Senate committees responsible for energy policy. These committees would then hold public hearings within 30 days to review proposals, gather testimony from experts and stakeholders, and issue nonbinding recommendations before any final decisions are made.

“People deserve a seat at the table when decisions are made that affect their monthly energy bills,” Hoitenga said. “This legislation puts ratepayers first and demands accountability from both the utilities and the state agencies charged with regulating them.”

The bill also includes provisions requiring major utilities to space out their requests for rate changes so that cases do not overlap—this aims to reduce strain on commission resources and avoid confusion among consumers.

“Accountability and transparency should never be optional when it comes to people’s household budgets,” Hoitenga said. “This is a straightforward, commonsense reform to make sure the process serves the public — not just the utility companies.”

SB 587 has been referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Environment for further consideration.