Recent Information

December 20, 2007

CCC, others testify against utility bills to end customer choice

Association of Businesses Advocating Tariff Equity (ABATE)
Fritz Benson and Rick Coy

Constellation Energy
Terry S. Harvill

Customer Choice Coalition
Eric Schneidewind and Robert Nelson

Integrys Energy Services
Fred Polenz and Alex Zakem

Universal Gas & Electric Corporation
Gary L. Field

Customer organizations, independent power producers, testify against legislation to eliminate customer choice, remonopolize state electric system - CCC Press Release

December 10, 2007

Opposition grows to Accavitti plan that would raise electric rates,
kill choice and competition - CCC Press Release
(December 10, 2007)

Opposition is growing to legislation that would take away choice from Michigan’s electric customers and raise rates for residential customers by $350 million.

Groups representing electric customers, including senior citizens, schools and business, along with independent energy companies joined former Michigan Public Service Commission members in expressing strong opposition to House Bills 5520-24, being pushed this week by Rep. Frank Accavitti, D-Eastpointe, who chairs the House Energy and Technology Committee. (full release)

Debate starts on energy bills
(Detroit News, December 11, 2007)
The battle begins today over a state energy package that backers say would stabilize Michigan's electricity market into the future, but critics contend it would kill competition and drive up monthly electric bills.

Hearings on the five-bill package are scheduled for today, Wednesday and Thursday in the House Energy and Technology Committee and possible passage to the floor for late this week or next week, said committee Chairman Frank Accavitti Jr., D-Eastpointe. (full article)

Coalition continues fight over electric choice
(WKAR, December 11, 2007)
A coalition of groups that purchase power from smaller Michigan utility companies is continuing to fight legislation that would eliminate the state’s electric choice law.

One member calls it the most consumer-unfriendly legislation he’s seen. (full article)

Opposition to State's Plan for Renewable Energy
(WLNS, December 10, 2007)
There's new opposition to legislation at the State Capitol that aims to make our state use more renewable energy. It's a package of bills that's currently before the house energy and technology committee. In a press conference, those against it said the bills would kill electric choices in Michigan and say it would create a monopoly in the state.
(full article)

Battle brewing over Michigan's utility choice law
(Bay City Times, December 10, 2007)
The Tri-City area is poised to become an energy producing powerhouse as plans take shape to build coal-fired plants in Bay and Midland counties.

But a growing political fight over how the state regulates electric utilities could decide if one or both of the plants ever break ground. (full article)

Customers, Competitors urge against House energy package
(Gongwer News Service, December 10, 2007)
A package of bills now before the House Energy and Technology Committee would mean higher electric rates for residents and businesses, a group representing those customers and alternative electric suppliers said Monday.

Members of the Customer Choice Coalition said at a press conference that the package (HB 5520, HB 5521, HB 5522, HB 5523, HB 5524) would allow utilities to set rates as they chose and would not allow competitors an opportunity to offset those increases. (full article)

Choice Coalition Comes Out Swinging
(MIRS, December 10, 2007)
The chair of a committee considering electric industry reforms claims his legislative changes would allow consumers to still pick a utility, but the head of the Customer Choice Coalition (CCC) said today, "This legislation would literally kill electric choice (and) customers would see rates go up immediately." (full article)

Miss the press conference?
Simply click the name of the speaker
to hear their remarks:

Barry Cargill, Executive Director, Customer Choice Coalition

Eric Schneidewind, Former MPSC Chair

Robert Nelson, Former MPSC member

Bill Knox, Associate State Director for Government Affairs, AARP

Ray Telman, Executive Director of the Middle Cities Education Association and Administrator of the Michigan School Electric Cooperative

Mary Dechow, Director of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs

Tanya Paslawski, Manager, Government and Regulatory Affairs
Direct Energy

Morley Silver, Senior Vice President, Universal Energy Corporation

Barry Cargill, Executive Director, Customer Choice Coalition

November 8, 2007

Historic proposal puts renewable energy and competition at forefront of Michigan’s electric solutions
CCC Press Release (November 8, 2007)

The Customer Choice Coalition today unveiled its plan to use competition and market forces to encourage renewable energy companies to expand in Michigan and meet our state’s future electric needs.

The coalition, which brings together electric users of all sizes and independent power producers, is urging policymakers to compare the long-term total cost of reliable renewable energy supplies to the long-term total cost of a new large base-load coal fired plant as the state addresses need for additional electricity in the near term. (full release)

May 8, 2007

Sens. Kuipers, Allen and McManus introduce
Senate Bills 426, 427 and 428

Miss the press conference?
Simply click the name of the speaker
to hear their remarks:

Barry Cargill, Introduction
Sen. Wayne Kuipers, SB 427 & 428
Sen. Jason Allen, SB 426
Bill Knox, AARP
Ken Marshall, Haworth Inc.
Ray Telman, Middle Cities Education Association
Barry Cargill, Conclusion

Bill announcement news release