The bill amends Michigan's 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 customer costs. Utilities must also coordinate with commission staff before filing rate cases, and the commission is mandated to notify utilities about the completeness of their applications within a specified timeline. Additionally, the bill allows utilities serving fewer than 1,000,000 customers to seek partial and immediate rate relief, while abolishing automatic adjustment clauses and prohibiting rate increases based on fuel cost changes without prior notice and a hearing. It establishes a three-year interval for general rate case applications and grants the commission authority to approve specific rate schedules for large industrial customers.

Furthermore, the bill introduces new provisions regarding tariffs for customers involved in net metering or distributed generation programs, requiring commission approval for these tariffs in rate cases filed after June 1, 2018, while exempting existing participants at their current sites. It also clarifies regulatory definitions, including "full and complete hearing," which ensures fair opportunities for evidence presentation, and specifies terms like "general rate case" and "steam utility." These amendments aim to improve regulatory oversight and promote equitable practices in utility rate-setting.

Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 460.6