MPSC to tackle issues of customer engagement

MPSC to tackle issues of customer engagement

by | Feb 19, 2021 | Uncategorized

MPSC initiatives to tackle issues of customer engagement, equity as state’s energy transition moves ahead amid pandemic

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   February 18, 2021

Media Contact: Matt Helms 517-284-8300
Customer Assistance: 800-292-9555
Michigan.gov/MPSC
Twitter

The Michigan Public Service Commission today launched new efforts focused on educating and engaging utility customers amid sweeping changes in the energy industry and ongoing challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Michigan is in the midst of a significant transition from large, central power plants to clean, distributed sources of energy, and active customer involvement will be critical to taking full advantage of the benefits of that shift,” said MPSC Commissioner Tremaine Phillips. “Today’s actions take the next steps in exploring how to best engage and educate customers, and ensure we do so equitably, so that all Michiganders benefit from the energy transition, while also considering the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on access and affordability for so many residents and businesses.”

In Case No. U-20959, the Commission established a Customer Education and Participation workgroup as part of Phase III of MI Power Grid, the MPSC’s multiyear initiative supported by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to maximize the benefits of the energy transition for residents and businesses. The workgroup will wrap in the customer data access section of the existing Data Access and Privacy workgroup. The goal of the workgroup is to examine the evolving role of utility customers as active and effective participants in Michigan’s energy system amid the transition and best practices for customer education and outreach.

That includes exploring the adoption of energy waste reduction and demand response programs, time-of-use rates and distributed energy resources that will be essential to ensuring the energy transition maximizes the benefits for all ratepayers while also ensuring the reliability of service. The workgroup will also address equitable access to energy programs and services, customer data access and privacy issues and ways to improve outreach. The order directs MPSC staff to file a report by Feb. 25, 2022, summarizing the workgroup’s efforts and providing recommendations for the Commission to consider.

In Case No. U-20757, the MPSC directed staff to convene an Energy Affordability and Accessibility Collaborative in coordination with the MPSC’s Energy Waste Reduction and Low-Income Workgroup to address recommendations in the Commission’s ongoing work on its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, affordable energy bills, and issues related to data collection and communication and engagement. The order directed Staff to file an interim report on progress and recommendations by Dec. 17, 2021.

To look up cases from today’s meeting, access the MPSC’s E-Dockets filing system.

Watch recordings of MPSC meetings on its YouTube channel.

For information about the MPSC, visit www.Michigan.gov/MPSC, sign up for its monthly newsletter or other listservs, or follow the Commission on Twitter.

DISCLAIMER: This document was prepared to aid the public’s understanding of certain matters before the Commission and is not intended to modify, supplement, or be a substitute for the Commission’s orders. The Commission’s orders are the official action of the Commission.

ice safety alert: edenville dam

by | Feb 19, 2021 | Recreation

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aerial view of snow- and ice-covered water near Edenville Dam

Water levels behind Edenville Dam dropping next week; public warned to stay off ice

Earlier today, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy issued a news release about work to begin lowering the Edenville Dam Tobacco River spillway, bringing down water levels behind the structure. Because this area around Gladwin and Midland counties is popular for many outdoor recreation pursuits – including ice fishing – we are sharing this information with our DNR subscribers.

According to the release:

  • As the water level drops and its velocity increases, the ice will become destabilized or could break apart, creating dangerous conditions. Receding water is also expected to expose unstable bottomlands, steep channel slopes and previously unseen debris, tree stumps or other hazards.
  • The public is warned to stay off the ice and the newly exposed bottomlands until further notice.
  • The area of unsafe ice conditions is between Dale Road and the remaining portion of the dam west of M-30. Caution also should be taken on the Tittabawassee River above the breached section of the dam – where the drawdown could lead to shifting and unstable ice – and below the dam on the Tobacco River.

The full EGLE news release gets into more detail about the reasons for the work and includes a map outlining the area for caution, an interactive story map, a batch of frequently asked questions and answers, and links to a webinar that explains the emergency work.

As a general rule of outdoor winter recreation, the Department of Natural Resources encourages everyone to put safety first, get familiar with local conditions and always dress for the weather.

EGLE release ►

Get the full background about the dam, waterway and planned work.

Ice safety ►

Ice time requires vigilance and caution. See our tips to stay safe!

Things to do ►

Beyond fishing, there are a variety of ways to enjoy Michigan’s outdoors.

DNR COVID-19 RESPONSE: For details on affected DNR facilities and services, visit this webpage. Follow state actions and guidelines at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus.
Ice shanty removal dates begin this weekend

Ice shanty removal dates begin this weekend

by | Feb 19, 2021 | Recreation

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– DNR News –
Feb. 19, 2021

Contact: F/Lt. Jason Wicklund, 517-284-5996

Ice shanty removal dates begin this weekend for portions of Lower Peninsula

ice shantiesThe Michigan Department of Natural Resources reminds anglers that ice shanty removal dates are quickly approaching – starting with Lake St. Clair this Sunday – and to always use extreme caution when on the ice.

Regardless of the set removal dates, changing ice conditions could require the removal of fishing shanties before those dates. This is a possibility every year because all shanties must be removed once ice can no longer safely support them.

“Based on the 10-day forecast, portions of the Lower Peninsula are predicted to experience fluctuating temperatures near or above freezing,” said F/Lt. Jason Wicklund, DNR Law Enforcement Division. “Temperature fluctuations can create unstable and unsafe ice conditions very fast. It’s the angler’s responsibility to safely remove their shanty before it falls through the ice.”

Shanty owners whose structures fall through the ice are subject to penalties of up to 30 days in jail, fines up to $500, or both. If a shanty is removed by a government agency, the court can require the owner to reimburse that agency for up to three times the cost of removal.

Lower Peninsula

Ice shanties on Lake St. Clair, located northeast of Detroit, must be removed before sunset Sunday, Feb. 21.

Shanties in the northern Lower Peninsula must be removed by midnight Monday, March 15. Those counties include Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Arenac, Bay, Benzie, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Clare, Crawford, Emmet, Gladwin, Grand Traverse, Iosco, Isabella, Kalkaska, Lake, Leelanau, Manistee, Mason, Mecosta, Midland, Missaukee, Montmorency, Newaygo, Oceana, Ogemaw, Osceola, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon and Wexford.

Ice shanties in the remaining counties of the Lower Peninsula must be removed by midnight Monday, March 1.

Upper Peninsula

On Michigan-Wisconsin boundary waters, ice shanties must be removed by midnight Monday, March 15.

All other bodies of water in the Upper Peninsula must have ice shanties removed by midnight Wednesday, March 31.

Daily use of ice shanties is permitted anywhere in Michigan if ice conditions permit and if the shanties are removed from the ice at the end of each day.

People venturing onto the ice should use extreme caution as temperatures begin to rise or fluctuate. The repeated thawing and refreezing of ice weakens its strength, decreasing its ability to support the additional weight of people, snowmobiles, ORVs and shanties. Deteriorating ice, water currents and high winds increase the probability of pressure cracks, which can leave anglers and others stranded on ice floes or at risk of falling through the ice.

Learn more at Michigan.gov/IceSafety.

Spring fishing

The end of ice fishing season means it is time to start preparing for spring fishing. Are you boater safety certified? In Michigan, anyone born on or after June 30, 1996, must successfully complete an approved Boater Safety Education course to operate a vessel. Complete boater safety online at Michigan.gov/RecreationalSafety.

For more information on all fishing opportunities, go to Michigan.gov/Fishing.
Enjoy responsible recreationStay informed, stay safe: Mask up Michigan, DNR COVID-19 response
COVID Vaccine Update

COVID Vaccine Update

by | Feb 18, 2021 | Regional News

COVID Vaccine Update for Oakland County

  • Health Division has administered nearly all the COVID vaccine doses it has received.
  • A new partnership will enable the Health Division to distribute vaccine to providers when adequate supply is available.
  • County launches video shorts project to increase confidence in receiving vaccine.
  • Coulter appoints Stafford as director of Health and Human Services Department.

Pontiac, Michigan– Oakland County Health Division’s percentage of COVID vaccine doses administered has exceeded 99 percent to date. Of the 41,350 doses the state distributed to the Health Division since December 17, 41,323 are in people’s arms. Oakland County wants to maintain its robust ability to vaccinate residents when adequate supply is available. Therefore, the Health Division has launched a network of COVID vaccine provider partnerships to whom they will distribute vaccine, County Executive Coulter announced during a news conference today.

“We’ve already vaccinated more than 41,000 people and have administered 99.9% of the doses that the state has allocated to us,” Coulter said. “But we’re ready and anxious for the time when that number jumps dramatically. We’re also excited that our new President, Joseph Biden, has chosen Michigan as one of the first stops he makes outside of the nation’s Capitol Friday. We hope his visit to the Pfizer facility in Kalamazoo, where the first Covid vaccines were produced, is a sign that we’re on the cusp of a substantial increase in the number of doses coming into the county, the state and the nation.”

Honor Community Health, Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital, and Meijer are Oakland County’s current COVID vaccine provider partners. Oakland County Health Division is working to expand the number of partners. The requirements are that the provider partner agrees to administer at least 90 percent of the vaccine the county distributes to them within a week. The past couple weeks, Oakland County has distributed 1,950 doses to Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital, 975 doses to Meijer, and 300 doses to Honor Community Health.

“Oakland County Health Division has the capacity to administer up to 20,000 doses of COVID vaccine a week on our own,” Health Officer Leigh-Anne Stafford said. “Once adequate supply is available and we receive more than 20,000 doses a week, it will take this public-private partnership to ensure we can vaccinate residents quickly. We are establishing the provider relationships and infrastructure now, so we are ready when that moment comes.”

Honor Community Health is vaccinating group homes and its Pontiac clients with the COVID vaccine doses Oakland County is distributing to them.

“Honor Community Health is excited to be partnering with the Oakland County Health Division to offer the COVID-19 vaccine to the greater Pontiac community,” said Debra Brinson, CEO of Honor Community Health. “We look forward to ensuring that all people within the Pontiac community who would like to receive the vaccine will have access to it. This is a historic time and we are proud to be a part of vaccination efforts alongside the county.”

Coulter also released other COVID vaccine performance indicators for Oakland County Health Division:

  • Oakland County’s Save Your Spot list, where residents can let the Health Division staff know they are interested in receiving the COVID vaccine, has nearly a half-million registrations so far.
  • Oakland County has more than 70 long-term care facilities that were not covered by the federal contract with CVS and Walgreens pharmacies to vaccinate long-term care staff and residents. To date, Oakland County Health Division has vaccinated staff and residents at 20 long-term care facilities utilizing its limited supply of vaccine.
  • The Health Division has offered appointments to more than 14,000 Oakland County teachers out of about 23,000 who have signed up for the Save Your Spot list.
  • There are still thousands of Phase 1A individuals who still need to be vaccinated.

In addition, Coulter unveiled a project by the county to produce video shorts to help increase confidence for residents receiving the vaccine. Designed to be shared on social media, the videos feature Oakland County residents receiving their vaccines from the Health Division at one of several vaccination sites it operates around the county and their positive experiences. The county is publishing the video shorts on the Executive Office Facebook page (@OakGov.EO). The county has produced three video shorts in the past week and will be posting more in the weeks ahead.

In related news, Coulter introduced County Health Officer Leigh-Anne Stafford as the next director of the Health and Human Services Department for Oakland County. Stafford replaces Kathy Forzley, who retired last week. The Board of Commissioners is expected to approve the appointment later today.

For more information about Oakland County’s Save Your Spot list or COVID vaccines, click on OaklandCountyVaccine.com.

Oakland County Vaccine Update.jpg

AG Nessel Intervenes in DTE Gas’s Rate Case

by | Feb 18, 2021 | Regional News

Attorney General Dana Nessel

Media Contacts:

Ryan Jarvi
(c) 517-599-2746

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021

Michigan AG Nessel Intervenes in DTE Gas’s Rate Case

LANSING – As Michigan faces dropping temperatures and increased heating needs across the state, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel continues her work to ensure that natural gas costs are affordable for ratepayers.

On Tuesday, the Attorney General intervened in DTE Gas Co.’s recently filed rate case as an advocate for the utility’s natural gas customers across the state. In the case pending before the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC), DTE requests a $195 million annual increase in rates, which would represent an increase for residential customers of more than 11 percent. The Attorney General, along with her expert witnesses, will be carefully examining DTE’s request and will argue against any increases in costs that are not reasonable and tailored to provide benefits to DTE’s customers.

“My priority is making sure that all Michiganders are able to keep the heat on in their homes, which is crucially important during times of intense cold like we are currently experiencing,” Nessel said. “I understand that even small monthly increases in the cost of gas service can have a tremendous impact on a family’s budget, so my team and I will carefully examine all parts of DTE’s filing and recommend against any excessive or unnecessary requests.”

The Attorney General’s intervention in DTE Gas’s last rate case and the ensuing settlement helped save customers $93.8 million. Since taking office, the Attorney General has helped saved Michigan consumers more than $1 billion by intervening in utility cases before the MPSC. Tuesday’s intervention reaffirms her commitment to affordable energy for consumers.

DTE provides natural gas to 1.3 million customers across the state and electricity to about 2.2 million customers in Southeast Michigan.