Nessel: DTE rate hikes ‘cannot be justified’ 

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel plans to challenge DTE Energy's proposed natural gas rate increase of $237 million annually, which would raise residential customer bills by approximately 8 percent. Nessel has accused the utility company of inflating costs to boost corporate profits and claims her office has previously saved consumers over $4 billion by intervening in utility cases before the Michigan Public Service Commission. The commission itself has faced recent controversy after Governor Whitmer replaced a consumer-friendly commissioner with a former political advisor who previously worked for a House Speaker criticized for blocking utility reform legislation.