Consumers Energy Granted Rate Hike

State regulators have approved a rate hike of $100 million for Consumers Energy, the state’s second-largest utility. The estimated cost to the average customer is about $9.00 extra per month. The new rates are scheduled to start in January. It amounts to an increase of about a 12%.

Consumers Energy, which is based in Jackson, MI, asked for the higher rates to pay for upgrades to its distribution system and to meet clean-energy goals by retiring coal-fired plants. The increase that was granted is 39% of the amount the company had requested.