Michigan’s two largest electric utilities – Consumers Energy,the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy, and Detroit Edison, theprincipal operating subsidiary of DTE Energy – plan to implementthe Michigan Public Service Commission’s (MPSC) electricrestructuring plan and offer electric customer choice this fall.The announcement follows the Michigan Supreme Court’s ruling onJune 29 establishing implementation of electric customer choice asa voluntary action undertaken at the discretion of utilities.

“We believe that the approach to electric restructuring embodiedin the MPSC rulings of the past three years is fair and balanced,and we have therefore decided to voluntarily proceed with thishistoric process,” said David W. Joos, CEO, electric for ConsumersEnergy.

“We strongly support the MPSC plan and will continue toimplement electric customer choice in the best interests of ourcustomers,” said Anthony F. Earley Jr., CEO of Detroit Edison andDTE Energy Co. “We look forward to working with the statelegislature and the administration on ways to best preserve for allparties the benefits of the MPSC plan,” Earley said.

Under the MPSC plan, the process of offering electric customersa choice of a power supplier will begin in September 1999, with allcustomers offered a choice option by Jan. 1, 2002.

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