Public Service Commission considering penalties for utilities over frequent outages

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utility-pole-safe388394

The Michigan Public Service Commission is weighing penalties for DTE Energy and Consumers Energy after repeated power outages this summer. Leaders are also asking for public comment on those potential penalties. Commissioner Katherine Peretick says she’s been dealing with the outages herself and understands the  frustration.

“It’s tough, absolutely,” Peretick said. “It is really hard when you lose electric service. It has happened to me. Over the last year, I lost it for about three days, and you realyl realize how dependent we are on electricity.”

The commission is taking public comment until September 22nd. A proposal also under consideration would penalize the companies if customers experience four or more outages a year.