Michigan House Bill HB4977

Michigan 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 9/17/25
• Refer: 9/17/25

Caption

Public utilities: consumer services; disclosure on electric utility bills of the number of power outages that occurred within that billing cycle; require. Amends 1939 PA 3 (MCL 460.1 - 460.11) by adding sec. 9e.

Impact

If enacted, HB4977 would significantly modify the existing framework under 1939 PA 3 by adding a new provision requiring these disclosures, thus improving consumer awareness and protection. The public service commission would enforce these requirements and impose penalties for non-compliance. This shift in regulatory requirements could lead to better service standards and possibly compel utilities to invest more in infrastructure and preventive measures against outages. Additionally, such transparency might empower consumers to make more informed decisions about their utility providers.

Summary

House Bill 4977 aims to amend the regulation of public utilities in Michigan, specifically addressing consumer services related to electric utilities. The bill mandates that electric utilities must disclose information about service interruptions on customers' bills. This includes the number of interruptions, the total duration of these interruptions, and momentary interruptions that last less than five minutes. The goal is to enhance transparency for consumers regarding the reliability of their electric service and to hold utilities accountable for service lapses.

Contention

While supporters of HB4977 argue that it will provide necessary transparency and accountability in utility services, there may be some contention regarding the implications for utility operations and profitability. Opponents might argue that the additional requirements could impose financial burdens on providers, potentially leading to higher costs for consumers in the long run. Moreover, there may be debate over how effectively the public service commission can handle the influx of data and enforcement challenges posed by these new regulations.