(Source: MIRS.news, Published 02/15/2023) Attorney General Dana Nessel is asking the Michigan Public Service Commission for more transparency regarding lobbying by utilities to influence public policy.
Nessel proposed several items the MPSC could implement, including reducing the length of a utility’s forecast, requiring a cost-benefit analysis for expenses, more disclosure of information for utilities that cross jurisdictions, improving the litigation process and increasing transparency for utility expenses used to influence public policy or to get rate-case they want.
“Utilities are government-created monopolies regulated by the state,” Nessel said. “Accordingly, customers of these monopolies should have the right to know whether and how much their utility is spending to influence legislation or other public policy that impacts the utility and consumers.”
Consumers Energy spokesperson Josh Paciorek said the advocacy from utilities is already transparent and the information could be found on their company website.
“The company follows all applicable state and federal campaign finance disclosure laws,” Paciorek said.
Nessel said the department is looking for five things: lobbying expenses, any contributions to 501(c)(3)s and 501(c)(4)s made by utility-connected non-profits, the amount a utility spends on attorneys to overturn rules or laws, and the amount a utility spends on a MPSC rate case.
"I am hopeful the commission will consider these recommendations and implement them for Michigan,” Nessel said.
The MPSC requested comments from the utilities and the Attorney General’s office regarding possible modifications to the rate case standard filing requirements. Utility rate cases must currently be completed within 10 months and provide the necessary documents by the deadline.
Paciorek said the company backs the need for transparent and timely reviews of the rate case filings.
“No costs to influence public policy are included in rate case filings and are not reflected in customer rates,” he said.
