Make DTE Pay Act

Higher fines for investor-owned utilities

This bill would require the State or the EPA Administrator to increase penalties for certain utility violations. It would apply when a noncomplying stationary source is owned or run by an investor-owned electric or gas utility. For each rate increase the utility received in the two years before the original penalty assessment, the penalty would rise by an amount equal to the original penalty. For each rate increase the utility seeks in the two years after the original assessment, the penalty would also rise by the original penalty amount. Rate increases would count whether approved or still pending. This requirement would apply notwithstanding other rules. This would impose much larger one-time fines on utilities and would likely raise some household energy bills.