State Rep. Rachelle Smit this week called on the state Senate to act on a plan that would make energy more affordable and reliable for Michigan families. She said the changes are badly needed, especially with Consumers Energy seeking another massive rate increase that would increase electricity costs by $456 million a year for its 1.8 million Michigan customers.

The House Republican energy plan, which passed the House last month, directs state officials to prioritize best technologies and affordability over political decisions to appease extreme environmental activists. A separate property tax proposal, which passed the House with bipartisan support last month, includes a mandatory rate reduction to ensure any savings incurred by the utilities, like Consumers, are passed down to ratepayers.

“Michigan energy providers and the residents footing the bill can’t keep up with the expensive green energy charade being pushed on us,” said Smit, R-Martin. “Consumers and other utilities are being forced to invest in unproven technologies that are costing regular people an arm and a leg. Those same people click on the news and watch China and India dump so much crap into the air and understandably question why middle-class Michiganders are being asked to save the planet.

“Radical environmentalist policies are not our cross to bear. Lawmakers weren’t sent to Lansing to virtue single to California and New York; we’re here to protect our communities and make life easier. That’s exactly why House Republicans took the lead and championed legislation to ensure state regulators are focused solely on affordability and reliability.”

The House Republican energy plan focuses on lowering costs while making sure residents can rely on consistent power during storms, heat waves, and freezing winter weather.

“Families in Martin, Delton, Allegan and across Michigan just want to pay a reasonable amount for lights that stay on,” Smit said. “Our energy plan doesn’t dictate that utilities or state regulators must continue operating decrepit coal plants or out-of-date natural gas generators; we simply want our energy providers focused on the most efficient technologies that deliver the most affordable energy.”

House Bills 5710-5711 would refocus state energy policy on affordability and reliability by rolling back costly state mandates and requiring the Michigan Public Service Commission to prioritize whether proposed energy plans will keep costs manageable for residents and ensure power is available when needed most.

The plan would also end the use of customer utility payments to fund outside advocacy groups and require greater transparency when utilities seek rate increases.

Smit and House Republicans also just approved a bipartisan effort to provide widespread property tax relief and force utility companies to cut the rates residents pay for gas and electric service. Between the two measures, Michigan families would save nearly $1,400 every year through lower property taxes and lower monthly electric bills.

Both the energy and property tax plans are before the state Senate, awaiting further consideration.

###