Marquette, MI – (Great Lakes Radio News) – The Michigan House has approved two resolutions aimed at protecting U.P. residents from electrical rate increases associated with a federally required $100 million additional cost to keep Marquette’s Presque Isle Power Plant operating.
The measures, sponsored by Representatives Ed McBroom and John Kivela and supported by Scott Dianda, formally demand the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to reconsider a cost shifting plan that puts the financial burden solely on the U.P. ratepayers The plan moves the cost division from 6 percent to 99.5 percent.
While both Wisconsin’s and Michigan’s public service commissions have said the assessment is an unreasonable recovery for the utility, McBroom’s and Kivela’s resolutions request that at a minimum the federal agency adjust the support resources cost so they are divided in a more equitable way that takes into account the original cost allocation agreement.
A similar measure sponsored in the Senate by Senator Tom Casperson was approved in October.
