Michiganders paying more for less

Because of a law passed one year ago in Michigan mandating a 10 percent cap on competitive electricity,consumers are now paying more for less, said the Customer Choice Coalition. This week the Coalition marked the one-year anniversary of the law’s passage by revealing the impact it’s having on customers across the state. The Coalition’s Executive Director Barry Cargill said, “Customers are paying more now than ever before.Detroit Edison residential customers are paying 20 percent, or $130, more this year and Consumers Energy customers are faced with a 9 percent increase at the cost of about $60 per year. Unfortunately, they're paying more and seeing nothing additional in return. Electric choice was capped at 10 percent of the utilities overall load, and that limit has already been reached in Consumers Energy territory. Now businesses are being told they cannot shop for competitive prices which could save jobs and ultimately keep business doors open." Michigan Sen. Cameron Brown is pursuing a new initiative that would increase the cap on competition, providing increased access for energy consumers to participate in electric choice. Joel Malina | October 30, 2009