Consumers Energy Hiking Rates Days After Announcing Refunds

The good news for residential customers of Consumers Energy this week is short-lived. WLNS.com reports that electricity rates for those using the utility's electricity service will indeed go up.

The confusion comes from a September 2016 rate hike. Consumers Energy and the Michigan Public Service Commission at the time were negotiating a hard cost of a rate increase. Officials allowed Consumers Energy to over-bill customers until an actual increased amount was agreed to.

That amount, settled Tuesday, allows Consumers Energy to raise rates in order to generate an extra $113,277,000. The initial increase in September 2016 exceeds that amount, resulting in the refund reported Tuesday. However, a rate hike is a rate hike. Residential customers can expect on average, a 2.8 percent price hike on their rates.

For the full scoop, read the article from WLNS here.