Administrative Public Service Commission may is September 18, 2024 this hearing is in case number 221534, in the matter of the application of DCE electric company for authority to increase the rates amended rate schedules and rules governing the distribution by the letter energy and miscellaneous accounting authority, this public hearing seems well in importance of hearing aids issued in the case. My name
is William
Farrow. I'm an administrative officer, administrative hearing from the rules. I will be public distribution, pay, public information, paid public time this evening, and there are few housekeeping matters that I want to address, first with ads that everyone
takes time to
view or silence your city electronic device you have take note of the exit decision and the microphones that are down at the front of the stage, we are the same. This public hearing will be held at Lund High School in Detroit. A transfer of the public hearing will be filed in the document for case number two, dash two. Members of the Michigan Public Service Commission, Chair Dan Sri Commissioner Alexander and Commissioner Katherine Harrison. Commissioners,
sure and thank
all of you for being here with us tonight. I want to make sure that I thank the folks for taking time there is special. Thank you to the groups that were involved in reacting and helping your you want to take a moment to recognize that the elected officials joining us tonight. I know that great city council member Mary waters is here,
and also Jeff the chair of the St Clair County Board, commission. Well, okay, and then if any other elected officials who are here, just a chance to maybe stand and wait and finally, to recognize as well, okay? Because of this hearing is really to listen to all of you, and because we already have a large number of county partners, we're not going to do a presentation or an account. We're simply here to listen to what you got to say, and we're excited to hear from you the comments made tonight included in the transcript as Judge Carroll mentioned we posted publicly. I wanted to thank our court reporter in advance for being here. I'm going to try to speak slowly to make her court reporter's job a little easier. I would encourage you all to do the same as making her comments so that she can answer any reporting comments in a contested case, such as is this again proposed for record and are reviewed by the Commission. However, I want to note that there is a difference between comments and the evidence that provided guidance for witnesses, those folks who by testimony that can be challenged during cross examination, and because comments are not subject to the same levels. Going to be as commissioned to base a decision under law. Again, human view. And again, I was saying that over the last several years, to point out we have benefited from increased participation from those representing customers in our positive states, including a number of groups representing frontline organizations. Here in Detroit, in 2016 for example, there were 31 parties. And last year's case, there were 69 parties. Northern Dublin, we also saw more than governing of extra weaknesses and pages in the transcript and a growth in topics. Reflects the diversity and increase the diversity of the groups participating in our cases, these groups are formal living, just like the utility of Professional Staff Attorney General and others. Yes, carefully with you. In addition the legislature and signed into law by government and Alabama significantly increased the funding failed organizations to introduce expanding the range of cases for which
was one. You can use and explicitly encourage granting to nonprofit organizations representing environmental justice communities and communities with the highest energy grants and respond which is separate from Deaf Michigan Loan service. So one way to make sure your perspectives are included in the industry. Record is to work for those nonprofit organizations to seek this funding to represent the infrastructure, and again, an increased focus on environmental justice
divisions. One more note before I close, because this is a contested case which hears a subject back to our tables, and this is really important.
These roles mean that we
can't talk back or engage in conversation debates. In fact, we're permitted by law from talking about any passive case that's in front of us. So if you have specific questions, I would encourage you to talk with one of our next guests and staffers here tonight, and they will be able to help. They'll take on your information and have someone get back to you. They can also share additional details around the process. Finally, speaking of our staff, we have a number of them here tonight, including members of our customer assistance. So if you have questions about service or rebuild these assistance, please stop By the
other hearings
like this, and as the Chair mentioned, we must grow our work in a very structured way that causes the laws of government. But this commission, the three of us here, we think it's incredibly valuable to hear from the people who are directly affected by the decisions that we made, and
that is why we're here tonight.
So hopefully we're going through a process to identify as movements for our cultivator process. We held a public hearing on this 28 and have some really great ideas on whether better take public input, expand accessibility and participation and also enhance transparency of our proceedings for however we can within the law, and then explain and explain language accessible ways the work that we do and the effects that it has on the Global Health Michigan. This commentary is still open, and if you have additional ideas for us, we would really love to hear them.
You can submit comments to docket you guys, 2.63 on the MPs website. Or you can use a comment card that's available that either the white comment cards are
where you can write
down your comments and link them to those boxes.
Or you can use the QR code on the cards that were being passed out by if you use the QR code, a new archives that's on the bottom here, you can add your comments to the comment jacket. Of other cases that are for us to focus on public participation and also improving the rate based process, but we genuinely would like to hear your ideas on how we can make both of these processes better. Processes better as appointed commissioners,
it's our job to serve you.
And I also just want to briefly draw your attention to a couple of resources that we have available tonight. At the registration table where you signed in, there are copies of rape case 101, which is a great resource to get an initial understanding of the rate based process. And then the second is of how to make a comment first card. So in addition to making comments here tonight, and in addition to using QR codes, there are several other ways to implement in our cases, for anyone who doesn't want to make a verbal comment tonight, we have those written, white written comment cards that I mentioned available on either recyclables. You can make comments during the public comment portion of our regular commission meetings, which we held every two to three weeks. And those can be intended in person at our offices in Lansing, and every one of them is also available to attend virtually for Microsoft Teams meeting, and everyone of those meetings has an opportunity for public comment. You can also submit written comments to the Commission at any time via regular mail, via email or LinkedIn account, and use our FDIC advocate for a specific case if you would like to comment on and you can find anything. Any more of these details, postcard, if any content or talk to anyone at all about it now. So thank you so much for being here. Recommendations for us. Good evening, everyone. I'm going to start
with my
so reiterate
and emphasize How important I want to make sure
that you can contested
process
requirements,
opportunities and we
are attending common system are also very
important. It will
take you to a survey. Take just a couple
of minutes to share such things
like, hi, everybody. I also want
to acknowledge and share cases to the many organizations who not only advocate for climate expertise to get involved in other students, but also those who invited partnerships that
help establish an ongoing exchange to keep the
public owner. There's so many communities
and organizations across our state build capacity and understanding how to work at the Commission affects all community members, and so I just want to point out, we have a wonderful team
of community government staff at the NSC that are constantly engaging working with teams to make these connections and stating
together, So please check our website also because of the
Research, getting
active
relationships to all of us with that ask that everyone be mindful
of the time make comments for maximum two minutes this evening, we want to try to get to as many people as possible so as they that two minutes we do have staff members keeping time this evening. So she will hold up a yellow card we have 30 seconds remaining on your time, and a red card for your time. As I said, we want to try to get to as many people as possible. So that's why we need to sleep. So that time three and we heard from the commissioners, other ways to make comments written and submitted to the commission, so that they would give them also, please be mindful that any comments that you do submit, whether you're verbal or any writing, will be a part of the public document. So please do not include any information that you would like to see prior when I call your name, please come up to one of the microphones now in front if for any reason. You'll stay seated, please put your hand up and the staff member will bring the microphone to you as the chairman, Jim. Please speak slowly and into the microphone so that the court reporter will get all of your comments accurately transcribed. And to cut down on time between the speakers, I would call you three names at a time so you'll know when you're coming to make your time. Okay, so our first speaker asked for accommodations in advance
is Karen Greenwald. I
It looks like we're having a little technical difficulty. So I'm going to call the next speakers up so that we can move along in that way time, and I'll hit this green wall when they make it so Eric hunt Carlson, member
Gary Lawrence, Mr. Hunt,
good afternoon. I want to
know why, legitimately, why? Legitimately, why
you're doing this. Is there any reason that you are speaking about to everybody as the chairs mentioned? We
will not the commissioners, nor I will just answer any questions you can make your comments and questions, you
can make your comments and they will take I suspect that when they came to Lake, troops leave and gas and put
it all on one bill,
they had a plan. Then
it's not fair.
I live in the house by
myself. My bill is constantly. Went up constantly.
I remember new lectures to be
doing nothing. But
this morning, I paid six oh, $7 this one,
I don't like to move why? And
if you can't tell me why, why can't you take so many money and put it on my loose we can deal with solar. I'm happy to give you money. Happy
to give you money Good afternoon. He's
a proud divorce of phc, does not stand for Corporate Services. Paradigm shifts itself and good to be bad in our neighborhood,
but I'm Thank you. I know if
already increased this session, I believe the rate increases business to merit for this community, mainly because we, the community
and state history and whole country, get to go to college smart grid, that's going to be the over $9 billion capital improvement project by GT. It's not an option.
If you look at the whole
buying the Maui and Hawaii last year after the identities got wiped out over $5 billion in cost instruction because they didn't have smart grid technology. If they had that, probably was going to be a flesh where they can isolate the problem, cut down power lines, turn off power lines, and, oh, my goodness, off. Probably no. $2 billion but they did not know what they were doing to find blind. So going to Smart Grid
is required. It's become a
great requirement very recently, because many of you've heard the term
AI, artificial intelligence. Artificial
intelligence has put a tremendous burden on the electrical grid, as we know it.
It's not my favorite guy, but Eli mus indicated right now we run out electricity, where I find this year, I think that's over the ambitious, far as what he's expecting. But in the next few years, we won't make it go. So we can't. We have to. To invest now, pay now and later something much more costly. I
don't like how dare
you. You know
the girls who want to link her, man, that TV going you keep going up. But hey, I don't want to pay more. I know just anyone else, but I know we don't pay now. We'll
have my sister. It will take up time.
Of time. Can't about so I want
to stop by today, because people in
the city of Detroit need help.
These their meals. They call the office all the time saying, I need help if I need to eat them, I don't know where to turn. I don't know how to give them the help that they need so that they're not in the dark. Sometimes they have to choose between food or their medication and this high BTE bill. Now I can't afford an item, but here's my statement, because they due to the essence of time, the mission
of the Public Service
Commission should reject outright DTE request
for DTD practice of 2023,
6.4 8 billion a 6.91
Increase in 2022
DTE annual growth model for 2022 was two, it was 6.6 8 million a 5.42% increase in 2021 the mission Public Service Commission was fulfilling us and institutionally behave as public service back On, the staff would really give them quite a
deal. Implement affordability rates with no shutoffs for those living in poverty or working poor that should also profit sharing between DTE and its customers was meaningful rebate checks to DT customers based upon dt based upon BTP, profits, Energy for Life, nests must be as a human. That's my
statement. There increases until these stated issues, affordability and no shadows, are incorporated into great increase agreements. Can you do that? Thank you. Thank you and not about
to make sure to comment on Ronald Lockett, curry Frazer and Dr los Thomas.
Why would you call it formed out from wall.
And one of, one
of the things I wanted to mention to the NTSC, this is very important. We have a big disparate divide between people with disabilities senior adults, low income, who can get somebody on the home in BTE to help them with their issues? The other thing that's really important is half of the people, half of Southeast Michigan has been cut off because it is not live stream, so we can participate
equally, and
that in the beginning of the meeting, we always ask, How can you be better? Well, we live in a meeting where live with virtual meetings. Is a bad of life. We live in a pandemic. It, and then for people with disabilities. And according to our Attorney General, Dana NASS, she says we must provide equal access to public meetings period. It's the law, it's the nurse with Disabilities Act, and also section
504, etc. So my concern
is this, neither the MPSC follows the federal law, nor DTE. DTE needs to have a disability office where people with disabilities to answer to whatever their issue
they can call and yes, that's also part of public
action. Public affidavit, and that's part of the law, so I just need to make that out there, because I'm in everybody's court. I hope to see you come on area to get through to somebody. It shouldn't be that hard. Thank you.
Association
of Black organizations,
and you deal with
community members. Citizens every day.
DTE has been
extremely helpful and supportive with us and meeting needs of our community members
doing
doing heat waves, uh, we had flat bands of water distributed throughout the community. Hallelujah. We We have boxes
lifeguards distributed throughout the community. We have, we have a really robots. DTE, senior appliance program, whereas furnaces, washers, dryers are are replaced. You know, we are citizens to get a chance to get replaced. Seniors, predominantly,
our seniors have really been taken care of significantly, and we work diligently with DTE, with their shutdown Protection Program, the key citizens receiving energy, which is very critical. I'm also a citizen and a resident over on East side, where my LA business community, where new grid has been put up, over on the east side, the idle view substation, and I advise everyone to see what we've done with
15,000
square feet of surface space where artists have put up a
beautiful faith revival for accessible, safe, reliable, accessible, energy that's tested your commission and here across Southeast Michigan, Detroit special,
it can't be with the Race of ete. What's happening through these so what you could say that somebody going to be a couple of steps up, but when those sins, already know exist, between food,
between the property taxes.
Also thinking
about the suing profits for this organization, the corporation that has made more profits before covid. 19 corporations, and we're Michigan, we don't even have a choice. That's why another so many areas. Is
they have enough. Have enough profit to put into their business, and
it's having our business.
Good evening. I'm
Doctor Thomas. I'm president of seal solution for any official logistics. I'm here to talk about some great work we're doing in community and partnership with
these teams. Please control yourself and not talk. And others are
helping people so that we can give
as many people count as hand.
Thank you. Gentlemen. Will take also who gave also too. There are a lot of senior programs, a lot of background services, a lot of community services. And I can speak for our organization, that we provide you services in the community. We work with over 43 nonprofits in the metropolitan program in the PTE electric service territory, where we're able to provide help, and I'd like to encourage those that have high fields
to really reach out to pte and ask those
questions and advocate, because we run five programs that provide support in the community. We have senior programs, we have excitement programs and other programs. So maybe you just don't know if you're available, but they lost. So please reach out for support
makes it more resilient, reducing outages and crucial
between weather and this
becomes more and more frequent.
Economic Development, upgrades,
support, clean energy, construction, real quick.
This can simulate
local economy. Does
support and hire a lot of Detroiters that
live in this area. I do
support what they're doing, and
they can do better. What I'm going to do is I'm going to be talking I need To shut up. Whoa Good evening.
I in favor of evening prior to having training.
I agree with everyone else that folks that say we should not
have desire between energy or who is just too much, but
I believe in my time, to my colleague churches, is
that I have to say a lot of time. And
I represent House District, 27 down river.
I'm here to lift up the voices of down river. I've got a lot of constituent calls with unreliable utility
service today on board, I even spoke to a woman in her biggest issue was the price of utilities. I'm here to lift up the voices of the community in which I represent and urge that NFC to not take away increase in prime alternative ways to do this.
I know that political giving is a
part of what ete engages in. So if you're the women
in political giving instead of first increasing rates for our constituents, once again, so again, I like to how we encourage the hesitation of yet another agreement has. That.
First of all, thank you for coming to Detroit. I've been into many areas with that here. First of all, I have been concerned about PT as well, but I want to state that I'm in favor of this great priest rebuild infrastructure. I've had certain delivery issues, and I think it allows things with the exception of the additional cost, high pressure, this clean energy efficiency, reliability, all the things that we're concerned about. I think really, I addressed this great piece. I've heard a lot of things said about what's going to happen with the money. Is not true. All of this money goes the infrastructure. Fact today in my
office, I love people
who cover free speech, especially those days, uh, spoke, please, and that's that's democracy. That's what we don't have right now. By the way, so many people from our loving respect. I just have a different opinion. I believe we teach based company how significant numbers I have for the Americans. If they invest in black businesses, and we need to improve our grid so reliability increases, so a lot of the place we have about a lack of service, interrupting service can be addressed. So again, I support the increase you
Thank you. Thank you very much. I don't think there's anyone here who must be asked of the Raiders, each one of those who are Abara and try
to put food on plate
for our families. There's a we take electricity. We take power to get the grant right.
We're facing a time now,
however, where the current grid cannot support what we're doing, we have an infrastructure which is over 100 years old in many neighborhoods, in those neighborhoods that support shooting that primarily at people who are black and brown other those are typically the areas for which needs to raise improvement. Now, as so many of you are saying, there is one way to improve this business narrative, and it's binding. We either become reactive, alright, or proactive. You're proactive when you're looking for solutions, you're reactive when you're floating on water. DG doesn't want to quote, on water. What they want to do is they want to provide services to each one, reliable services,
and for that, I have no choice but to support. I don't
want to be able to increase. But what I do believe is that at the end of the day, all of us are
going to be better. My parents. Comment to Croatia Williams and Andrew,
good evening. My name is Juanita Ray. I am the president of local two to three Utility Workers Union of America. I represent almost 4000 members and maintain and operate electrical, gas wind turbine and facility. My members live in every community, from other peninsula to the Michigan, Ohio border and everything in between. Our members are invested and active because they, too are a customer.
These men and women were 20, 473, 365,
days a year when things are at their worst, we are at all events. I'm going to talk about our aging infrastructure, the increasing climate change, and why it's important to support DTS, to invest $9 billion into the infrastructure over the next five years, which will increase reliability. In the last few years, we have experienced prolonged outages due to major storms that can be reduced with updates to the electrical system, new technology, such as vital situations, as an example, can isolate the impacted part of the circuit, living outages and unnecessary knowledge, also battery storage systems that can provide increased reliability born high heat pump by adding needed megawatts to Brewer. DTE will be decommissioning coal fired power plants and invest in heavily into clean energy that will reduce carbon emission over the next eight years, with this investment and proper oversight, it will meet the demand for the future and be competitive for new Business for the entire state of mission. They such as right. Hi.
Good evening, everybody. My name is Anna Harris. I am Detroit resident.
I'm hearing two sides talking to each other this
evening, and I'm hoping that I can share a couple remarks that might be nice about it. So I don't think there's anybody in this room who doesn't want to have a state of the art electrical grid, and we want to have reliable power and that we want to invest in the type of infrastructure that is going to be. Word off the climate crisis that is
hurling towards us at our rates.
However, when we know that DTE pulls in a profit, so a clear profit is the money that is made from revenue after expenses are paid. Okay? DTE, for those who aren't aware is both a public and a private entity. A private entity, legally is beholden to its stakeholders, financial stakeholders, not you, not the people who pay for the power, but those stakeholders. Okay, so we don't need to keep paying more rate increases. We need to cut out the component where people are
still having commissions. We can keep having public meetings. We can put all these band aids on this output. Power should be public utility like water. Why would we allow people to profit from the production of power, even if we
weren't looking at two or three Celsius deforming in the next three to five years, we have to structurally change the way that we are providing power to our citizens and cut out this for profit component where We can do this until we're all Done, ready
for for
my experience in dealing with BTE, I've been a complaint, and I'm a supporter,
and I always support
when things are going well, when things are going
wrong, I have experienced
how I always used to play their blood
and they are
inconvenienced. At the same time.
If we do not invest in the rigs
and continue just to cut trees,
we are going to continue to get what we get.
It's time for us not to kick the can down the road,
but give them what they need to fix this problem to
another ground, because God said that
there'll be an affirmative made the heavens and earth. There's
been weather patterns been around for less than 200 years. Earth is created over 2000 years ago.
The technology is here for us
to catch up and get these things underground so that others
will be affected by this Lord. So I encourage you to look beyond the right now and look for the future.
Give them what they need, so we
don't have plan back next year and
ask for all and
ask for all over again. Reverend bridges, Jason and rosemary. James, good evening. My name is Martin,
and I of my unpaid job at church, work at home, my
baby son, my youngest child,
have literally been at home since 2010 there is not a single day that there are tablets, iPads, laptops and everything else running. Everything is seemingly going up without without a single choice. Food is up. Schools are and I am here
to join the entire number of nine year olds here has also
gone up however I hear I claim this evening,
to stand up and
say that not to support this great not because of anybody else, I'm just tired of my power and those that concern. It's time for us to give them exactly what
they need to give them the same way we gave it to the idea,
the same way we gave it to the zoo, the same way, but the same
way. No one, no one stands outside the program IN THE. Her brand's up. They don't stand
outside of that at whatever grocery
store because anybody knows her up. It is conquered
that this is just Roy dads. You Good afternoon.
I'm Jason Kaplan with the captain Tree Service Department Cass City, Michigan. We're a woman on tree service as a subcontractor for de energy. And close to 30 years ago. It was the first time we ever partnered with DD and our first project, we had six employees, and now we're almost at 300 employees. Every one of those 300 employees are everybody in this rooms, your neighbor, your friend, your family, and they support in the local communities. And we come back to all kinds of places like the autism Alliance in Michigan, the United Way. We just donated to the YMC of the metro Detroit. We also support the tree troop Academy in Detroit. We hired a lot of the graduates from the DP Academy, and we put them right straight forward, and they had good paying jobs, 17, which is supported through DBE. We again are in support of this as well, because it supports more than just our business, but our whole family and the community all around us.
So thank you. Rosemary, James, Roy
X Betty Johnson, yes, sir. First of all, I'm very glad everybody's here tonight, because I think other forms are very important. About four years ago,
we had four, we had four power outages
during one summer, during one hour, we were down in two days, and during that time, I had to throw out a lot of food. And I'm sure many people can relate to
that, very frustrating about
this summer, I must tell you, other times I always look at the weather to see what is going on, because I would buy food knowing that perhaps there could be a Storm. But this summer, we had one power College, and we were down eight hours.
I've seen improvement with DTE communication,
with alerts, with reaching out to the community. I think it's very important, and for that reason, I am support our radios. Thank you.
Rosemary claims,
beg Johnson
Rafael, here's somebody who
comments,
we the people, and you got pocket right here, see y'all.
Brian, yes, I just don't understand what what is
it that sound and a lot of lot of citizens, I think,
with citizens, I
think what they do is go from street to street, you know, because the trees actually do need to be cut. And, you know, I've heard people talk about programs you have, but a lot of times those programs, what happens is people are being overqualified. Yeah, then you want them to apply for a Romo people, I think what the citizens really would need is a grant. And people need us making money off of us running grants. You know, I'm against it. I do feel that a grid is important, but not in the sense of Detroit. First
of all, to hold the gas light into speaking, get it in when you can, because CTE is
asking for an increase on gas rates too.
Represents. Not only myself, but the 1000s of great barriers in Detroit Highland Park who are tired of paying more or less when it comes to our electricity service. I know that solidarity, the organization committed to energy democracy and community led solutions, and we are outraged by the ongoing exploitation of our community by energy.
Very good. Is asking
for yet another rate increase this time now raises $456.4 million while delivering some of the worst service in
the nation. In the nation, how can we affect the public?
Which consider this request when it's clear that ECE priorities are entirely misaligned with the needs of the tough trips we see exactly where our money is going, private jet trips for executives,
employment for their luxuries. Well, we can barely afford to pay our monthly bills. 10s of 1000s of dollars from like smacking on island and Florida shareholder meetings are slipped into these rate hike requests, expenses that have nothing to do with improving the reliability of our grid or addressing the frequent outages we experience. How is this justifiable? How has this been allowed to drop?
Dde already received a 360 $8 million rate increase just several months ago. Nothing is approved. The Power goes out with every storm, literally
and figuratively, construction improvements, but where are the results? It's time to stop pretending that these rate hikes are for our
benefit. They are not fluid. 8% percent of their funding coming from them too.
My name is Ryan,
Alex. I'm an assistant business manager international brother 17. I
even though the local 17 represents
over 4200 men
and women that were primarily left for the utility sector, these are the men and women that I really build and maintain, the power lines, substations, streetlights, traffic signals, three times three for Southeast Michigan, our organization was first chartered in Detroit in 1892 around the same time the first bridge was being arrived over the past March 32 years, the electrical industry has provided countless men and women from all communities employment that offers competitive wages, provides quality health care and plan protects and all the tools to live a secure, middle class lifestyle and
encourage dignity.
We hope this continues to work for the next several generations, electricity has gone from a knowledge and luxury of the past life and the county our current bridges have come to showcase over the last few years with severe weather caused a great amount of number four, many communities, current infrastructure is approaching the end of its useful life. The growing demand for electricity, vehicles, data centers and manufacturing will require significant portions of the rebuild to be fundamentally responsible. We must continue to see how clean source development required investment is commenced. As much as $9 million is coming to be invested in the first five years long the sustained benefits from this investment will also be amongst for the community. Grid updates, including modern technology, will need far fewer outages for customers during severe weather. These other areas also together. Of restoring customers much faster with systems. As a labor organization, worker safety is one of our top concerns.
Optimization and grid will also
need a safer work environment for utility workers and public this festival will also a prayer.
Thank you. Before I start, I just want to say again, I am a minister, so I can appreciate this. Okay, and hallelujah.
Power. Outages healed.
Y'all know that right? Power outages heal when the lights go on. It's just not just dark. Some people have treatments that they need when they need a machine plug in here a dozen.
So because we have people knocking at people's doors in the city of church and offering high over
$16,000 if y'all part of that
property, they're trying to get them out. Is that part of the right that's not enough money for us? Um, in the fight, the man said earlier, in the beginning, God created the heavens and herbs and lights, and one of the things he invented and created, should I say we have a solar panel in Detroit right now, right off the freeway. Um, nobody was given a notice to their homes of what could happen, or, you know, or wouldn't be solarized. We can blow up or anything to happen just right on the freeway where accidents occur. So if a car flip on, we're going to the solar panels. I gotta get the water signs up. We gotta tell what happens
with those solar panels. Because last time I checked, y'all give a lot of money to come to solar panels
together, I thought these students were doing tremendous excellence. But I'm finding out composers. I'm
pretty sure Councilwoman waters can agree that this is just something to a city council meeting with all the members sitting up there smiling at you, welcome me here, telling them going up adorably the microphone for two, three minutes and hitting smiling face, and all while they don't feel dark and they're going to still go, Yes,
I when I say, we should all turn
up and know that this is very, very political. This is a administration that the DTE is having to see, and it's a administration in office. So remember that when y'all complain about food prices, light bills, gas bill, remember your administration here? Remember when you voted November? We were both going radiation.
When they told us they were putting 5g
up, it created a lot of people. A lot of happening in my neighborhood.
I know three people who died of cancer. My concern is I had bed first falling on a day to day basis. No one can tell me why. There was a young lady who was at me before they even started talking about the grid, we're talking about the solar panel, who have warned us, once they started putting cribs and soul panel up, that people were going to start dying of cancer. A clever amount of people in my neighborhood who were dying off of cancer, and it was not sold to the grids and the patterns. Everything started growing up. So my concern is, I don't know, for again, is a political move, and again it's, it's just shareholders and BT our property. We're not profiting, and so I'm not going to Goody
bell I am my personal experience with BT is, is, I'll just give you a little story. So
when the pandemic hit, I
was running for you put on the bill when I came home from the hospital, one of the first services that came to my receive was DT energy
to some true story. I
run a nonprofit organization helping fathers and families to down track
their children, and
so they were there, providing resources such as mass
but they also Partnered with us in hosting a covid 19 testing, so they're going wrong, wrong with us? Told us one of the other examples of us is a four superfluous development training class. Together with us, we've graduated before the men. So far, most of the men got a job. To retain the jobs,
I went just like a new, experienced biologist. And so wife said, she says, We, you know, I
need to get a job. Here I was in 2021, 2021
so we gotta tell you,
2023 she says, Why is the power of my life?
Yes. And so I said, Wait. She says, Well, we stood up.
I ain't feeling you at all,
not at all. Gas
plants so
there is no children of Detroit. Of Detroit,
the bad air
dt is a common sense on renewable supplies and past account subjects, solar systems and such.
They also make selling power back to the DT very difficult.
And if DTE is given the rubber stamp from the MP SC, I would hope that DTE future takes on projects such as buried power lines, such as
giant grid systems, we can
do so much better in this city
and the corpus.
Hi, my name is
Anya. I live in Detroit, and
I work in tax foreclosure prevention. The fact of the matter is that ete is directly stealing from public services like transit education with these rate hikes, people are not paying their property taxes through which our public services are funded, because having lights and gas shut off is more immediate than tax foreclosure, they're being forced to pay DTE shareholders before they're able to contribute toward the common good.
My second point is that
SSI Social Security income increased 3% last year. DTE got a 6% rate hike already in December, and now wants a 9% hike. The average GTE bill that I see is about $300 because often my clients are paying on back bills in addition to their current bills, this is already about their their income at this rate, it will become half of their income paid to GTE within a decade. Also, my friends at a house next to them explode and remember because the neighbor was using some alternative sources of heat. I have had at least one client every two months who uses alternative sources of heat, and I have to do more because they can't afford to tea. I am very opposed to these rate hikes, and I am for a rate decrease, which we could have all of our
conversations. Right
now. Spirit. That's
why we have spirit. And the
spirit we want to know who's accountable,
accountable for this, this horrible thing that's one of us,
his baby. We go
to DHS and get help, why are we filming all this back
door money and when we really
shouldn't be paying this price? Go to my park.
This building was coming from DC, getting up north ground and we've been
gravel. We went to deer Brown.
They're saying people
out of spacewalks
every day. Come on. We are doing analog technology.
We are advancing technology so
that we can have
affordable energy we do not and also.
Cool. Hello.
My name is Mitch schaffler. I'm a Detroit resident. I lived in Woodbridge, one of the first conversations I had with the neighbor of Woodbridge when I moved there was an autonomy to get used to the lengthy power outages. They proceeded getting the candles I'm also a labor union organizer for the American Federation of Teachers. I work with educators and healthcare professionals in Detroit, throughout the state, and my work, I often host corporations that try to dismantle unions and treat their workers with contempt all the name of profit. Ultimately, as the communities of these workers serve hospitals, schools and universities that suffer as a result of unchecked corporate greed and community spaces whose resources should be a public good. That sounds familiar, dt is no different than human Buster that I come across daily in my work. In fact, I think DT may be worse.
I know I believe that things are invincible when I see one, but the people of Detroit, Michigan will not back them. It's inexcusable for DTE to profit off majority black and low income city while they fail to provide reliable, affordable energy. It's not no consequential
approval. The people in the city and
Michigan deserve better and should have to continue paying more for less. I'm in trauma position to be to propose an electrical rate increase, and I strongly urge the commission to stand with people in Detroit And Michigan and reject the standout
in
strongly oppose
any hiking electricity rates, no for profit. Company that means over $2 billion in profit that is also guaranteed a monopoly over us, makes enough profit to prevent all shut offs, all this customers, 52 times over, should ever be allowed to charge more until they can provide safe, reliable service, they should get no great light, until they can guarantee their power does not go out every time it rains, they should get no rate light, until they stop poisoning our community with dirty air and toxic waste, we can improve our service, upgrade our great care in the city of all parts of the city, using their existing over $2 billion in pockets. Ever gave them more money here in this city, we are so affiliated with income based water affordability plan that is not perfect, but we do have one. And I also work in property transfer culture prevention and the number one request that I get when it comes to utilities is, is there a program like that for energy and utilities? There's not. There's no income based plan for people to keep their power on. Dt can shut off which power, but then take away people's children for not having power in their homes. We need an income based affordability land for energy in the city and as a government regulatory body, you work for us, the people of Michigan, and not corporations.
The Hello. My name is Kevin Bryant. Was born and raised in the city of Detroit. As a matter of fact, I grew up in a church right across the street here at
Unity Temple pass. I think
we're Gaston, which is Gaston saints, Pastor right across the street from over here. Um, after growing up here, I graduated from university mission. I played football there. I started my national championship team when I was 17, and afterwards, I was able to start a business. I was fortunate enough, God bless you, to start a business, and I was able to become a partner at BT. Now, I'm not for I'm a mother, a father and a grandmother, they're all fixed income, and I'm not for maybe increasing their rates. But our company today employs over 200 people out of the city of Detroit. I provide well paying jobs, um, they can afford,
where they can benefit and
and they have a career path. This opportunity was ordered by DC. Great work in the city, Detroit,
they could do home a lot more a working class struggle, but,
but we but the game.
You need. It's greed. Go out more
AP and severe deal no grace.
We are him going through the formality of death of another hearing, you hear what
you are, these
entities or any amount or any
purpose, for a lease, according to the Initial
Public Service Commission records, you have approved electric increases between 2016 and december 2023
in the amount of $639.4
million Wow, shareholders
saying
that three 70 million
dollarssemble, December. Well, on December 1, the MPSC approved, approved nothing 100 and 70 million, not 368 million.
Also in November 2023, DT
said everyone has signed a $300
loan and $300 million savings to the payers. That amount into a $5 reduction in our bills. But instead, we got
an increase. As ratepayer who hears about upgraded infrastructure, I need to know how many of the 444,400 47,000 miles, the different things. How many of the 1.1 million Poles, 432,000
Distribution
transformers, the 260
million miles of conductors, have been replaced and upgraded
to the 676
subs with that 630, $9 million
that I reported to You, I had
two house fires. You need
to know, need to know that it only cost $2,000 To clear one line. Thank you.
Blessed. Welcome
to Detroit,
go ahead finish ma'am. An hour or
two other people, my total monthly dollars, individually, I usually pay about $15 each month for electricity. I've heard from someone here to enjoy
paying dollars of $200 each month while living alone, simply because of the difference in location, their bill was over 10 times higher. This is an inequity that exists between high income high income areas and low income areas. I am a strong opposition to DFTs proposed lecture rate increase in external service commission staying with the people of Michigan that are trying to send out to DFT you.
Team and next Brian president and
and taking great care. I agree with all those people who say that we need to avoid our grid. I believe those people who have said that DTE has been beneficial to their communities and their facilities. However, the reason our grid is in such bad shape is because DTE has put. A shareholder profits over maintenance. My profit is
what is left after taking care of business and, you know, wages and everything, then I have profits. Sometimes I have a lot of profits, sometimes
I have a little profit. Sometimes I maybe have no profit. That would be the
year that I maybe have to increase my prices. However, BCP is a guaranteed profit anyway, until, you know, on health, racism, and then they want a rate increase to repair
things that they shouldn't have
been. I just understand, you know, we're supposed to live in a democracy. We're supposed to in the capital system. The market is supposed to not dictate what happens, but DTE has a guaranteed product, and so my objection to a rate increase is, why are they giving
them profit no matter
what? One of the main reasons DDS pushed to this rate hike because of this massive spending suit planning to spend, say, $8.2 billion over the next three years, on top of 4.9 billion spent in the last few years, they want to spend over four $50 million the Attorney General, About that, said they only need around 130 million. Why did they why are they trying to spend more money? Well, here's the thing, the more money the DC spends, the more profit they're guaranteed, guaranteed a higher rate of return, and an effort growing out of investments, meaning more profit them, maybe straight out of pockets. This situation is especially troubling we consider that these rate structures were designed based on a different economic era, one of the four equitable distribution of luck, which residents had a far lower energy burden, the fracture they become a resident has to spend on an energy policy. Today, economic reality is starkly different. We live in something called late stage capitalism. You've heard of that. In Detroit, local households face an average heavy burden over 10% nearly three times the national average. Many families are struggling to keep lights on, while DTE is asking the MPC you all to force these residents to finance unnecessary products that may not benefit them. And they expect, not only to continue their their higher rate of return. They expect increasing profits year after year. I ask the commission, why should ete continue to enjoy robust guaranteed profits, while the people it serves are confronted with record high energy burdens? Why should ete be exempt from the shipping economic trend, and not only a customer face, but nearly all American businesses face it's time for permission to make choices that reflect deeper, systemic comprehension of the shifting economic realities and protect residents, plus consumers over the long term. This means that they must lower these rate of Return to reflect today's economic condition, prevent excessive profit stress.
First and foremost, Sean Garrison Community Network. I'm
going to keep you
set on the plane so whoever needs my time to take this is an abusive relationship. And what the reason why we're known as
wrong of everybody in the audience
is because of the abuse of the early departure of our elders, because they can't have their machines, their OS machines, because they can't have an instant code, right? I'm a diabetic, right? So this is home my father, I believe, passed on
early, because we live in the house without for a year.
Why would someone prostate cancer? So this is real for me
and you guys are the only ones who actually have the power, actually have
the power. Was dropped by, and you have person after
person after person come up here and get their testimony, give
their right story, talk about their neighbors, talk about the people they care about, hosts, you have the power to do
something about you. Yes, you don't you. You make
you feel real good, because the people
are suffering. Thanks.
Imma. Say one last thing about this abusive relationship. Not only does it need to stop we need to hold those accountable as the
corporate actors and as these
Well, first of all, thank you for letting me stream today. My name is Jeff Bo I'm the county board chairman in Santa Clara County. I've been on board for 20 years, for term 14. We have a lot of DTE assets in Santa Clara County. DTE first filter plant in Marysville back in 1914 is when they started that plant. That plant did get decommissioned in 2000 and then it did get to around and we received an A fireman from the state of Michigan occupancy. And Santa Clara County actually owns a landfill too. So that material made to our landfill was tested, the site was approved and signed up on we have a gas fired plant that just recently opened the blue water energy center. We closed the St Clair plant. Just recently closed. It was a electric coal fired at a plant home representing 2000 megawatts of our DT produces 11,000 megawatts, correct? So when you take 2000 megawatts out of line, there's a heavy price that that goes along with replacing that through the renewables. And I'm not here. You know, four news three was talking over the D teams done in our community have employed
by people. So I just think this journey that you're faced with making decisions, understanding, incorporating renewables and those types of things into the whole public
Welcome, to Detroit.
My name is Max boy. I work with any justice organization solidarity because of my position, I can tell you countless gut wrenching stories, rather than impossible situations because of BTE trustee. I got money, but their lots aren't here because they're working two plus jobs to turn off to afford their bill. I could also sit here and tell you about the statistics we done our research on bte. We can tell you about the revenue, profits year after year, couple of how physical the grave reliability is. But I want to talk to you about distance. You see tonight, you will hear you have heard so many heart wrenching stories of residence. You can hear the anger and the disappointment. Unless you're a sociopath. You can feel it too. But the worst part about the tide situation, you get to go home. You get to go when you want to live our lives, you get to shake off all this uncomfortability in a few days,
that event you went to Detroit will be in the back of your
mind. And the worst part about all of this is that we're not done. We know that he asked for an insane amount of money, and then they're expecting to get a lesser amount. And then you come and check the clock, talking to all the wonderful residents of Detroit, and then give them the exact amount they were expecting in the first place. You could pride yourself on an absolute win. You quelled the angry mob less than the amount. But you give these ease of money so they can post record problems. And I'm not even going to get into our npsc Money is, but you
know them to win it for you too. And
I'm just saying that you're wishing and hoping that you have the courage. Say no entirely to the way I can shut this down.
I wish you would have no backbone to do what you were hired to do, to represent our lives and our stories had all. Giant IDE, but that would require you to bridge the gap of the distance that's so easy to hide. Hi. My name is Francesca Stevenson, and I live
in in New Center in Detroit, and I want to thank the commission for long to make a comment tonight, I'm here because I would like to ask the commission to deny TT request
that TT made $2 billion in profit last year that they're trying to use this rate increase to pay for private jets for their executives to attend meetings. This rate increase request is corporate. Brief, plain and simple and hard review, people in Michigan week is to pay more for electricity, as an example of DC. Brief, I would like to tell you about my parents, who have been living in the same house Detroit for over 35 years, and when I was growing up in 20 years, we only experienced one hour. Now they have it every year. A couple years ago, they lost power in the middle of winter, 23 no working parents, almost
20 degrees outside.
So they brought they bought a generator, and so DT told my parents that because of the student generator, they would need to pay $3,000 for a new year. They made a payment in full upfront, before they would even start the work.
1700 of that was
labor costs. They sent two workers who worked for one hour. And do you think that each of those workers were getting $850
an hour? I mean, that'd be awesome. They
were when I seriously doubted, I think DTD was talking about money, as my mom said, DTD brings people off because they can get away with it, please deny us for an increase. The good people of Michigan need this money more than TTV does, and if TTV executives need to travel, they can fly commercial work for us
today. By
the fisherman of Satan. Back in January, I knew about our almost 24 hours, and I won. Am I going
to lie?
Is this but I thought about the other people, the industrial, you know, people with accident Bentley respirators. You know, refineries, medicine, cold, the days of life. I don't know. I hope they did. And then over the summer, you know, I've spoke to some people after all pains. And then, so I was told the same emergency relief fund right now in banking life. And he was like, sorry. And then I also go to the sad market. So be your side exchange, and two cents. And the idea the Man, so if they took the two cents away, but hey, investors, you'll be given $1 you these two sets will fund the Satan legacy for the whole year, Andrea Pierce,
the last name is H, A, B, Bob, Garcia Andrea Pierce, Maggie, Gwen hay, Ryan, Rosario, Caitlin, Connor, Neely and
can you hear me? Andrea Pierce, hello, everybody. I'm Andrea Pierce. I'm at Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition on
the policy director.
I act tight.
I was there when MPSC, when you voted for and approved 30 633, 160 8 million that was implemented and started in December, and I got to make my comment and said, you ruined Christmas for a lot of people. I'm
sorry. I.
That's the same one. That's the same thing when you also approve the line by tunnel, which you also don't need. I've been doing research on this. You guys just sit here rubber stamp all of these ratings. Consumer tower. DT. What are we? Except for us, we need an increase. Alright, we can have
some money. So to be
able to pay our bills. Those keep coming and eat food. Have children we need to take care of. Now, I was doing research, okay, and I write that up until a
decade ago. A decade ago,
10 years rate rate increases were not this time they were there, pte would ask for a radios in here for about 33 years, we just gave them one in December, free electricity. It also asked the one in January, your gas and corporate checks. We need to go over their expenditures. Really spending this money? Where's the dollar? We are paying more now for gas, electricity, we're paying for food. We're paying for truck riders. Why? Because the rate is going up. It's a common thing. Who's going up, up, up, up, no matter what happens, the end result is sending them us, paying for everything that we need, one desire, and it's about to cry these record profits, the purpose you Know this, you see the same thing where I have
Hello, I'm a resident of
Detroit and a mom of two toddlers
for the past four years,
I've been having to watch my babies monitor what the temperature is in their room and decide, like, how much heat or how much JDC they have in my house,
and I've watched the
rate increase so like, How cold is too cold for a baby like 62 degrees feels like shit, and my bill is $450
for six months less.
It's not okay. So we know you rejected most of the rate like 2022 we also again, and with the time of day increase that happened last year, it's like that rejection didn't even happen.
So we're learning it's been years now we're watching you, we're getting organized. We're being peaceful now.
Hey, I also want to know
when the ship know when the ship will serve as commissions actually
hold VC accountable.
You know a lot about us. They gave me the stocks ahead of the Energy Commission, at least $20,000 they gave me your boss, whoever we were, at least $50,000 and it really wasn't
a matter of dollar and it really doesn't matter on the side of it you
are on there is no corporate accountability at all, and one of the biggest things that the public service commission is supposed to do is hold those people accountable. $2 billion in regular profits containing private jets. What systems do you have in place to actually hold on like no
power you are going to
be $35 Where do you step up in your job to actually do something to make sure that that no longer happens? My father is seven years old. Me and my siblings, who are working class, has to come up with $15,000 in order to get him a generator. His
oxygen. My father has almost died twice during our outdoors
and there is not one thing that you guys are doing to hold them accountable for those things. So not only should they not get more money, you guys should actually put some systems in place
to hold them accountable.
We have been here.
Sister Leona
Pearson's
shirts and
electree supplies
to join, and npsc is the only permanent intervention right? There's drug increases.
Nothing about this entire process, from you all being upfronted by the governor to the utility monopoly is democratic capitalism. Thank you. Decision
npsc makes in favor of ET this
situation can be compared to my
appeal is for
all of you, those your our appeals for our liberty, against our slave masters,
responsibility to bear witness,
Colossians, four verse
one, Masters provide your slaves, which is right and fair,
because you know,
you. Hi, how are you?
I'm sure you're worried about
the same kind of highlight two
areas that you heard. That we've heard besides business people, and we've heard the size of people.
So let's talk about some business people early. We worked with the Detroit Association
of Black organizations from 2013
to 2018 they actually received $130,000
from the Alliance tradition power, which is one of these seafood fronts that they put
money into Advent. Far
too much.
There's also people here, not organizations, a business, you will make about it, whereas I believe we homeowners,
word came too much. I
love the inside. I got a four year old first in the winter. So you really need to be listening
to people and being a decrease. Had a full protection.
I have written, what is the justification
for rate increases for unreliable utility services that are utility services that are reliant on fossil fuels. The reliance on fossil fuels is a direct threat to our health. We have already seen the consequences of fossil
fuel reliance,
and this will continue.
DTE will face no consequences for this, but we will continue
to have facilitation and on
our medical treatment, they won't say CTE solution, they will say pro but the theater will never be pointed at
ete yet their pockets. Will remain full health ethrow to pay our bills, if there is any consideration for
our current economic
crisis and how great accounts will exacerbate
people financial struggles,
I'm concerned
about greater funding for fossil fuels and
how they can attack community health. What
do we see? Responses?
What is your plan?
We're just to be forced to pay more for our homes and
mine? Whose side are you on? Who are you nervous to be truly valuable, as you said,
transmit our confidence into action.
Don't let our participation be in vain. And
the last thing
that I will leave you with is how we would expect us to believe that the
rate decrease will go towards renewable energy, black holidays and grit, a breathing rate decrease
is going To share
more. The Thank God.
You said,
You're say, tomorrow I talked to him.
I had to take you at the house that I was winning. The life was switching off. The road, Paul service. I asked him
to come and turn the fuses off. The phone me and my dog had to sit
down. I got the video
tape terminal 247,
I put up a new unit cell to take those
shoes out the boat. That's all
I ask you. I called
you all seven. Okay? About
BCE, I turned off. Room
with our cameras on top of me Today, nobody told me in my house.
God, I am here as the organizer of Michigan League, conservation lawyers, a lifelong resident of Michigan and lifelong community member of Southwest Detroit, unfortunately, consumer by not by choice of UTM, and we know that they have been squeezing more money out of its customers year after year since 2017 they pushed the rate heads, putting profits Ahead of people every single year ahead of the duality of service and these problems, we've seen how they spend money. Heard a lot about that tonight, and we got nothing. And you see none of it, both towards loving our prayer in the latest bullseye. No, it's outrageous. And the Attorney General will increase the mission of the incarceration. Will understand for accountability, especially when it comes to the utilities and safety, reliability and affordability. NDT is sealing all three heights, way down Michigan families while tracker show and prioritize profit or providing the basic services we deserve. Reliable, affordable and clean energy, and he sees louder neighborhoods in the dark, literally and favorably over the years. Yes, we're not asking for a handouts, and we don't need more social welfare. It's appreciated, but it's not their job, and we're demanding that they fill the role for once. Yes, we're demanding access to clean energy, access to lower bills, and access to the future waters and quote, doesn't dictate our energy options,
excessive and unnecessary, and she's white. The Michigan residents here deserve, and we already deserve better, reliable, affordable service, and we're paying some of the highest rates in the country. That service courtesy of DCD. We deserve better, and no PC that we're asking for the bare minimum. They should be the expectation. And like many folks said, we should be talking about, why are we holding the rates the same rate now? Why are we increasing, or why shouldn't we the commission? The commission should reject this entirely, and they supposed to come before
it is Andrew capitals,
like cap, low weights, some of y'all remember,
um, alright, but I actually
want to go back to what the first status
feed said.
He asked a question,
why are you here? And I know y'all can't answer the question, but I have
one possible solution that I want to put out for everyone in the audience.
These commissioners are here because they're required
to be by law.
Okay? Last fall,
there was a package of bills that
were passed. One of them required MPs commissioners to have four hearings a year that are accessible to the public.
That's why, so thank you
for being here.
So
what do they do? They do great nights. But besides
that,
they now have a new
job responsibility. It's coming in from the same Senate bill that acquires them to me here today, and that new job responsibility is to take climate
equity and affordability into account.
Never before, never
before has the regulatory body that oversees appropriate monopoly been able to take into account
affordability.
So now you have these cool New Level Up superpowers. This is
Oh, wait, today, wasted time,
wasted time, rates which are not affordable by people like me on this income. You know, I had a power outage. I got in bed. I lost my Excellen. My insurance will not pay for that. Out of Pocket, cost me $350 I live in a house by myself.
It's been rewired. I had new
put on all types of things, and my bill is still enormous. My last bill was $488 I don't live in a mansion. I do not afford an increase. I do believe we. Need the greatness, the infrastructure that, however I cannot, I do not have that increase, but on me. Thank you for your consideration. For
Why y'all got all Those
in the recreation verse.
Me the human response reported to you previously, along
with my equal and industry standards as made you clear, one model of power lines is
approximately
$2,000 that says that these team removed the dead trees that caused current house Fire under their own portability for several years.
