MI Raises Power Outage Credit: What To Know

Michiganders who lose power often or go days without it will now get more money.

The Michigan Public Service Commission on Thursday raised the bill credit to $42 per day for customers who endure prolonged or frequent power outages.

That will go into effect starting Oct. 1 and will automatically show up on eligible customers’ bills. The previous credit was $35.

To receive the credit, customers have to be without power for:

• 96 hours during catastrophic conditions, defined as a utility having 10 percent or more of its customers without power.
• 48 hours during gray sky conditions affecting between 1 percent and 10 percent of a utility’s customers.
• 16 hours during normal conditions.

"While we know that these credits may not fully cover expenses and potential losses when the power goes out, they are an important tool for the MPSC to ensure utilities are doing everything they can to restore power quickly," said MPSC Chair Dan Scripps. "Unlike typical fines, these credits for violations of the Commission’s Service Quality rules are paid directly and automatically to those customers who are most directly affected by outages."