Michigan regulators approve DTE $273M rate increase, EV pilot, net metering replacement

The Michigan Public Service Commission (PSC) on Thursday approved a $273.3 million rate increase, an electric vehicle (EV) pilot and distributed generation program for DTE Energy, though it denied the utility's proposed system access charge for solar customers. Advocates hailed the passage of DTE's "Charging Forward" three-year EV program, which allows the utility to spend $13 million on incentives for residential and non-residential chargers, along with education and outreach and a school bus charging program. Regulators rejected DTE's proposed formula for paying customers with distributed renewable generation. In addition, the new rates, which go into effect May 9, represent a substantially smaller increase than the utility had requested.