The Michigan Public Service Commission launched an affordability webpage outlining efforts to control energy costs and expand assistance programs for residents struggling with utility bills.
The centerpiece of the announcement is a new energy affordability goal: reducing the home energy burden to no more than 6 percent of household income for residents most in need. The goal aims to cap energy spending through affordable payment plans, reducing the need for families to choose between paying utility bills and other essentials.
The MPSC said it has saved customers more than $3.3 billion since 2020 by rejecting utility rate increase requests not fully supported by evidence. Michigan's energy waste reduction programs have saved customers $6.8 billion since 2020, according to the MPSC.
The state expanded its Michigan Energy Assistance Program (MEAP) in 2024, with the program expected to help about 90,000 eligible households this year, up from about 50,000 households before the expansion. The program could eventually serve up to 150,000 households annually.
Michigan's average monthly electric bill in 2024 was $119.31, nearly $23 below the national average of $142.16, and lower than neighboring Ohio ($135.16) and Indiana ($133.06). Michigan's residential electric bills ranked 15th lowest in the country, the state's best ranking in a decade. Considering both electric and gas costs, Michigan ranked 18th nationally in both 2023 and 2024.