The bill amends Michigan's existing laws on public utility regulation, particularly concerning rate increases and the Public Service Commission's responsibilities. It requires utilities to obtain commission approval before raising rates or changing rate schedules that would increase costs for customers. Utilities must also coordinate with commission staff prior to filing rate cases and adhere to a timeline for the commission to assess the completeness of their applications. A new provision allows utilities serving fewer than 1,000,000 customers to seek partial and immediate rate relief, with specific deadlines for the commission's response. Additionally, the bill abolishes automatic adjustment clauses and prohibits rate increases based on fuel cost changes without prior notice and a hearing, promoting transparency and public participation in the rate-setting process.

Moreover, the bill introduces new legal language regarding rate cases filed after June 1, 2018, requiring the commission to approve a tariff for customers in net metering or distributed generation programs, while exempting those already participating before the new tariff's establishment. It also states that electric utilities cannot include credits issued under this act in their rate increase applications. The bill clarifies definitions related to utility proceedings and specifies that municipally owned electric utilities are not classified as "utility" or "electric utility." These changes aim to strengthen regulatory oversight and ensure fair treatment for customers involved in renewable energy initiatives.

Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 460.6