Regulator approves DTE Gas credits, Consumers surcharges

A decision by Michigan's utility regulatory body will result in credits toward bills of customers of DTE Gas Co., while customers of Consumers Energy Co. will be hit with surcharges.

The Michigan Public Service Commission approved Thursday revenue-decoupling settlements for Michigan's two largest utility companies. Revenue-decoupling disassociates a utility's profits from its sales so as not to discourage it from offering energy waste-reduction programs.

Consumers customers will be charged on their August bills a residential surcharge of between $2.30 and $17.92 based on their type of housing unitmeter rating. The company collected about $4.95 million less than needed between January and August 2018.

DTE Energy Co.'s natural gas residential customers will see credits toward their bills of between $1.05 and $11.54 in September, October and November. The company collected nearly $4.57 million more than it should have from November 2017 to September 2018.

bnoble@detroitnews.com