Michigan utility regulators would be elected under new House bills

Craig Mauger, The Detroit News on Mar 5, 2026

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A group of Michigan House Democrats introduced proposals Thursday that would require members of the state's public service commission, which is in charge of regulating utilities, to be elected by voters.

The policy bills, which had 13 Democratic co-sponsors, came amid increased public frustration with repeated electricity rate hikes approved by the commission in recent years.

A January Detroit News investigation found the price of electricity for residential customers in Michigan had more than doubled in the past 20 years, outpacing inflation and increasing at higher percentages than the rates in 46 other states.

One of the Michigan Public Service Commission's jobs is to decide whether proposed rate increases are just and reasonable. Currently, the three-member panel is appointed by the governor to six-year terms, and all three of the current members are appointees of Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

In a statement Thursday, Rep. Jimmie Wilson Jr. said he's heard from "countless concerned residents about spiking utility rates."

"Electing public service commissioners is not a change that benefits any one political party; it is a necessary choice we must give Michigan residents so they can decide who makes decisions that affect their rates down the line," Wilson said.

Under the plan, the commission would expand to five members. The state's political parties would nominate candidates for the positions and voters would pick commissioners beginning in 2028. They would serve staggered four-year terms. A person's time on the panel would be capped at 12 years.

It's unlikely the Legislature will act on the bills, which would represent a significant change.

House Speaker Matt Hall, R-Richland Township, sent the bills to the Government Operations Committee, where proposals often languish and stall out. In a statement, Hall said simply, "The MPSC is government operations."

Whitmer, who currently has the power to appoint members of the commission, would also have to sign the bills, which put the commission in the legislative branch, in order for them to become law.

Asked about the measures, Matt Helms, a spokesman for the commission, said, "The commission is focused on keeping up recent momentum on significant improvements in electric reliability and keeping customer costs in check and will decline further comment."

Yet, 13 House Democrats — a quarter of the caucus — signed on as sponsors of the bills.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers also introduced Thursday joint resolutions that would ask voters to approve an amendment to the Constitution to make the public service commission elected positions. Whitmer wouldn't have to sign those in order for the resolutions to go before voters for their approval. Fourteen lawmakers sponsored the resolutions, including two Republicans: Reps. Tom Kunse of Clare and Jennifer Wortz of Quincy.

In the past, Republicans have backed similar proposals. In 2023, state Sen. Jim Runestad, R-White Lake Township, sponsored a bill to make public service commissioners elected positions. Runestad is now chairman of the Michigan Republican Party.

“It is time to give the people of Michigan more oversight when it comes to our utility providers and to shine more light on this powerful and influential interest group," Runestad said in 2023.

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