Michigan families are paying more for electricity than ever. Between May 2025 and May 2026, the average Michigan power bill climbed more than $27 — a 9.4% increase — while utility companies continued collecting profits that rank among the highest in the nation.

A new package of bills introduced in Lansing this week would change that. The "Ratepayer Bill of Rights" — House Bills 6093, 6094, and 6095 — takes direct aim at the hidden costs buried in your monthly energy bill.

House Bill 6095 would cap the profit rate that utilities like DTE Energy and Consumers Energy are allowed to collect from customers at 8.2%. Right now, Michigan regulators set it at roughly 9.9% — above the national average. That difference may sound small, but it adds up fast. According to Rep. Natalie Price, D-Berkley, the cap could save Michigan households about $267 over three years.

House Bill 6094 would make it illegal for utilities to charge customers for executive perks, private travel, political lobbying, or advertising. These costs have repeatedly shown up in utility rate requests — and without a legal ban, it falls to regulators and advocates to catch them every time.

House Bill 6093 would require independent audits of utility electric grids every five years, so the public has real data on outage performance and whether companies are maintaining the infrastructure customers are paying for. "Data is important for accountability," said bill sponsor Rep. Betsy Coffia, D-Traverse City.

Together, these three bills represent a straightforward principle: Michigan ratepayers should pay for the energy they use — not for shareholder returns set above what's necessary, not for executives' perks, and not for the political campaigns of the companies that serve them.

This isn't a partisan issue. Rising energy costs hit every household. Sign this petition to urge the Michigan Legislature to pass the Ratepayer Bill of Rights.