Advanced Energy Perspectives

In its November 7 order in the DTE Gas Co. rate case, the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) approved several key decisions to protect consumers and pave the way for more affordable heating options in the cold-climate state.  

DTE filed its request to raise rates by $266 million on customers in January 2024, noting that most of the dollars would go toward pipeline maintenance and modernization. This comes as part of a broader trend affecting the industry – natural gas utilities across the country continue to raise delivery rates at unsustainable levels, leaving consumers with skyrocketing gas bills.  

The 2024 Maryland legislative session wrapped up on April 8th and marked another step forward for clean energy development in the state. Advanced Energy United played a key role in developing and supporting policies that reshaped how the state is approaching issues like transportation electrification, energy efficiency, and even geothermal energy.  

We’re currently seeing three critical energy trends across the state of California.  

First, energy affordability is an urgent crisis. California's success in reducing the cost of clean, renewable power means commodity energy prices during much of the day are lower than ever, but replacing our aging and fire-prone infrastructure has driven electric bills to unsustainable levels, especially for the state’s poorest and most vulnerable. 

In May 2023, Xcel Energy Colorado filed its inaugural Gas Infrastructure Plan (GIP). Not only was this a first for Colorado, but in a national regulatory landscape light on gas utility oversight, it was also among the first of its kind nationwide. With the gas industry facing unprecedented headwinds – and in light of changing policy, technology, and market conditions – states are looking for new tools to understand and evaluate gas infrastructure investments. Colorado is at the forefront of that change, with state, city, and county emissions reduction policies and programs layered on top of generous state and federal rebates and incentives for clean appliances. In addition, gas commodity and infrastructure costs are rising, and innovation and scale are happening in the cold-climate heating solutions marketplace. All of these beg the question: how do we align long-lived, ratepayer-funded utility infrastructure investments with these long-term trends while still providing for our energy needs in the near term?

Everyone deserves access to home heating that doesn’t burn a hole in their pockets. Yet, a recent study by Strategen conducted for Advanced Energy United sounds the alarm for Consumers Energy customers in Michigan. Monthly home heating bills, an already significant burden for many, are forecasted to rise — from an average of $75 in 2021 to between $114 and $131 in 2030.