Rate Requests

About Utility Rate Requests

More About the MPSC & Rate Case Process

What is a Rate Request?

The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) oversees utilities to ensure services are safe, reliable and fairly priced. By law, the MPSC sets the rates charged by regulated electric and natural gas providers. Any change to Consumers Energy’s rates requires MPSC approval through a rate case proceeding.

How a Rate Case Works

During the rate case process, the MPSC Staff and other parties will look at our request, present evidence and participate in a formal hearing. After going through all evidence, the MPSC must issue a final decision within 10 months.

Benefits of the Process

The rate case process ensures the energy you pay for is priced fairly and that every dollar is accounted for. It also ensures we can maintain a secure energy system today and responsibly plan for the future.

Please select the Natural Gas or Electric tab below to learn more.

Electric Rate Request: What It Means for You

Securing the grid to support Michigan now and in the future.

2026 U-22070 Rate Case Request

We’re securing Michigan’s grid to prepare for the future. On June 2, 2026, we filed a rate case request to make this happen. On Mar. 27, 2026, the MPSC approved our 2026 Reliability Action Plan. This plan provides funding to secure Michigan's electric grid.

We understand that rate and bill changes affect everyone differently, and you deserve clear, simple information about what they mean for you. If the MPSC approves our rate request, the average home with a monthly electric bill of about $155 would see an estimated monthly increase of $13 (9%) starting in May 2027. But your exact bill impact will depend on how much electric you use

No Immediate Impact
It’s important to note there are no immediate changes to customer bills. The MPSC is reviewing this filing and has until Apr. 2027 to approve all or some of the request. When the process is complete, we’ll let customers know about any changes to their bill and when they will take effect.

Filing Documentation for Case U-22070
We’re sharing the case documents below so you can easily follow along and stay informed. We also welcome you to share your feedback about this request.

Why We’re Making This Request

We deliver power to two million homes and businesses across Michigan. This responsibility requires ongoing work to build and maintain a strong, reliable infrastructure. We know how important dependable energy is to you and your family, which is why 75 cents of every customer dollar goes to securing our electric grid. To prepare for the future, we’re:

Working to keep bills low while securing the grid

Electric bills are 12% below the national average and we’re focused on keeping them low while we make upgrades to keep our system secure.

Reducing the number and frequency of outages

We’re working toward two long-term goals: restoring power to customers in 24 hours and ensuring no storm will cause more than 100,000 customers to lose power.

Burying power lines underground

Burying lines improves reliability by 90% or more. We plan to bury 50 miles of lines next year.

These upgrades ensure that power outages are shorter and less common, even in the face of more severe, catastrophic storms. We’re committed to securing the grid and delivering electric service at rates better than the average among our industry peers.

Our Commitment to Michigan

Understanding Your Bill

Learn More About Your Bill

Your electric bill has three main parts:

Production Charges – The money you pay for making electricity and sending it to your house.
Distribution Charges – Costs to maintain wires, poles and other equipment that bring electricity to your house.
Other Charges – These are fixed monthly fees that consist of billing and metering costs and other surcharges required by law.

You can log in to your account to see your energy use over the past 13 months. This helps you spot patterns, plan your budget, and manage energy use.

Consumers energy worker at a natural gas facility

How We Offset Rate Increases

We buy most of our winter gas in summer when prices are lower. Then, we store it so customers avoid higher winter costs. We pass the savings right along to customers with no profit added.

Helping You Manage Costs

We offer flexible options because we know life can get tough – and it’s ok to need a little extra help. These resources are here to support you and help keep your energy bills as low as possible.

Payment Assistance

Click the button below to get help paying your bill. You can also call 2-1-1 or visit mi211.org to connect with local nonprofits

See Assistance Options

Custom Solutions for Your Home

We’re here with payment options, alerts, rebates, assessments, and tips that help keep your bills as low as possible.

See Your Offerings

Our Promise

No one wants higher bills. By securing the system, we keep energy safe, reliable, and affordable for Michigan families and businesses now and in the future.

Natural Gas Rate Request: What It Means for You

Securing the natural gas grid to support Michigan now and in the future.

2025 U-21981 Rate Case Request

We’re securing Michigan’s natural gas grid to prepare for the future. On Dec. 16, 2025, we filed a rate case request with the MPSC to adjust natural gas rates to make this happen.

We understand that rate and bill changes affect everyone differently, and you deserve clear, simple information about what they mean for you. If the MPSC approves our rate request, the average home with a monthly natural gas bill of about $88 would see an estimated monthly increase of $7.21 (8.2%) starting in Nov. 2026. But your exact bill impact will depend on how much natural gas you use.

No Immediate Impact
It’s important to note there are no immediate changes to customer bills. The MPSC is reviewing this filing and has until Oct. 2026 to approve all or some of the request. When the process is complete, we’ll let customers know about any changes to their bill and when they will take effect.

Filing Documentation for Case U-21981

We’re sharing the case documents here so you can easily follow along and stay informed. We also welcome you to share your feedback about this request.

Why We’re Making This Request

We deliver natural gas to over 1.8 million homes and businesses across Michigan. This responsibility requires ongoing work to build and maintain the infrastructure that brings energy right to you. We do this because we understand how important dependable energy is to you and your family. To prepare for the future, we’re:

Replacing thousands of service lines

We will be upgrading thousands of lines that connect homes and businesses to our system.

Updating pressure facilities

Updating pressure facilities helps natural gas flow more safely to homes and businesses.

Adding cost-effective technology

We will be adding technology to help lower costs such as remote control valves that quickly shut off parts of the system when needed.

Replacing hundreds of miles of pipelines

We will be modernizing and upgrading hundreds of miles of gas pipelines. This will include the Four Cities Metro Pipeline in Oakland and Macomb counties.

Updating or retiring old gas storage wells

Newer storage wells allow us to buy and store natural gas in the summer when rates are lower. These savings are then passed along to our customers.

These upgrades create jobs, help Michigan’s economy, protect the environment and control the cost of energy. Our innovative use of technology helps keep bills as low as possible.

Our Commitment to Michigan

Understanding Your Bill

Learn More About Your Bill

Your natural gas bill has three main parts:

Gas Cost Recovery – The price we pay for the natural gas itself.
Distribution – Costs to run and maintain pipelines and storage.
Customer Charge – Billing and metering costs, a fixed monthly fee.

You can log in to your account to see your energy use over the past 13 months. This helps you spot patterns, plan your budget, and manage energy use.

Helping You Manage Costs

Payment Assistance

Click the button below to get help paying your bill. You can also call 2-1-1 or visit mi211.org to connect with local nonprofits

See Assistance Options

Custom Solutions for Your Home

We’re here with payment options, alerts, rebates, assessments, and tips that help keep your bills as low as possible.

See Your Offerings

Our Promise

No one wants higher bills. By securing the system, we keep energy safe, reliable, and affordable for Michigan families and businesses now and in the future.

Rate Requests

Please select the Natural Gas or Electric tab below to learn more.

Electric Rate Request: What It Means for You

How We Offset Rate Increases

Payment Assistance

Custom Solutions for Your Home

Our Promise

Natural Gas Rate Request: What It Means for You

Payment Assistance

Custom Solutions for Your Home

Our Promise

Ask CE Watts