en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) recently approved multiple contracts for Consumers Energy Co. to add a total of 1,269 megawatts of solar capacity. The utility is working to add up to 8,000 megawatts of renewable energy capacity to the grid to meet its renewable energy goals.
The commission approved a 30-year power purchase agreement between Consumers Energy and Moonshine Solar Park LLC, covering the entire output of a 150-megawatt facility in Clark County, Illinois. It also approved a 30-year power purchase agreement with Hectate Energy Sunfish Solar, covering a 499-megawatt facility located in Lee and Clarence townships in Calhoun County, southern Michigan. Consumers Energy estimates the cost of the Moonshine Solar PPA at $694 million and the Sunfish Solar PPA at approximately $2.057 billion.
Additionally, the commission approved Consumers Energy's applications for 30-year PPAs with Acceleration Solar LLC, Portside Solar LLC, Hawkeye Solar LLC, and Hawkeye Solar II LLC. These agreements cover the entire output of the 90-megawatt Acceleration Solar project in Ingham County, the 80-megawatt Portside Solar project in St. Clair County, and the 200-megawatt Hawkeye Solar project and 250-megawatt Hawkeye Solar II project, both located in Clinton County, Iowa. Consumers Energy's cost estimates for these projects are: $417.1 million for Acceleration Solar, $352 million for Portside Solar, $961.1 million for Hawkeye Solar, and $1.2 billion for Hawkeye Solar II.
This approval helps advance Consumers Energy's compliance with Michigan's renewable energy standards. Under the 2023 state energy law amendments, which require 50% by 2030 and 60% by 2035, Consumers Energy must fulfill a portion of these targets.
In September 2025, the commission approved Consumers Energy's revised renewable energy plan to reflect the 2023 energy law changes. The modified plan includes purchased and company-owned solar resources totaling up to 8,000 megawatts, consistent with the utility's 2021 integrated resource plan.
In a separate decision, the MPSC denied Consumers Energy's request for rehearing of a December 2025 order. In that order, the commission reconciled Consumers Energy's 2023 calendar year power supply cost recovery fees and revenues, disallowing approximately $2.4 million in replacement power costs due to the outage of the J.H. Campbell power plant. Consumers Energy sought to reduce the disallowance by $1.3 million, arguing the commission's order inadvertently disallowed costs previously deemed prudent. The commission stated it found no unintended consequences and believed Consumers Energy had confused the findings in the order.
The MPSC approved a settlement agreement for Detroit Thermal LLC, which provides steam energy to major buildings in the greater downtown Detroit area. The company projected a 2026 revenue deficiency of $4,101,762 in its rate increase application. The settlement established a base rate adjustment based on a revenue deficiency of $4,006,978. The commission approved a 10.6% return on common equity and a common equity ratio of 52% equity to 48% debt. The new rates took effect on the date of the order.
The MPSC directed DTE Electric to take steps to address issues raised by a complaint from the owner of a 90-acre property in Vassar, Tuscola County. The property's tenant is a state-licensed cannabis growing facility. Vassar Acquisitions LLC filed a complaint challenging fees, including late fees and unregulated non-energy services, and alleging billing errors, charges for unnecessary equipment, and enforcement of an allegedly illegal and unreasonable line extension agreement. The commission dismissed Vassar's complaint with prejudice but directed DTE Electric, in its next general electric rate case application, to explain how existing voltage fluctuations affect the prioritization of sub-transmission system investments and discuss how to address sub-transmission system areas with voltage violations. The commission also directed DTE to propose a line extension policy in its next rate case to ensure new customers connecting to the grid pay reasonable connection costs without causing other customers to subsidize their new service.
The MPSC denied a rehearing application regarding the commission's order in Consumers Energy's latest electric rate case. Solar Technology LLC filed the rehearing application on April 27, arguing that while it agreed with the commission's approval of a facility allowance for customers on Consumers' large economic development rate, the commission erred in not allowing existing customers to benefit from the allowance. The commission disagreed.
The commission is seeking public comment on proposed revisions to MPSC rules and duties for local exchange telephone service providers ceasing service in Michigan. The proposed revisions largely reissue current rules and aim to streamline existing regulations to ensure the commission and affected customers receive adequate notice of a company's intent to discontinue service and that providers comply with relevant statutes. A public hearing will be held on July 22, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. in the Lake Michigan Conference Room at the MPSC's Lansing office. Comments may be submitted until 5:00 p.m. on July 29, 2026.
The MPSC granted a partial waiver request from Indiana Michigan Power Co. (I&M) regarding certain long-term modeling requirements in the state's updated Michigan integrated resource planning parameters. These parameters specify what Michigan electric utilities must consider in long-term modeling of future electricity needs. The commission approved the utility's request to submit alternative modeling scenarios that reflect the goals of the updated planning parameters while recognizing I&M's participation in the PJM Interconnection. I&M stated it plans to file its next integrated resource plan in the first quarter of 2027.
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