On May 7, 2026, U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich),  introduced  H.R. 8715, known as the Make DTE Pay Act, which would amend the Clean Air Act by increasing penalties for investor-owned electric and gas utilities that seek customer rate increases after violating federal environmental laws. 

The proposal comes as DTE Energy continues seeking higher electric rates, while repeated outages have fueled questions about whether Michigan’s regulatory system is doing enough to protect consumers. 

The combination of proposed legislation, rising utility costs and widespread outages has turned utility oversight into one of Michigan’s most pressing public policy issues. 

Reliable electricity is no longer simply a convenience. It powers homes, preserves food, supports medical equipment and protects families during extreme weather.  

When a regulated utility cannot consistently provide that service, elected officials have a responsibility to determine whether current laws are adequately protecting Michigan consumers.

The recent outages illustrate why many Michigan residents are demanding change. Communities including Detroit, Livonia, Wayne, Westland, Dearborn, Madison Heights, Warren and Grosse Pointe experienced widespread outages after the Independence Day storms.

Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield issued an executive order directing city departments to clear fallen trees and check on vulnerable residents.

“The first responsibility of any government is the safety and wellbeing of its citizens and during this extreme heat, both are at risk,” Mayor Sheffield said. 

More than 23,000 DTE customers remain without power as of July 7 and the utility warned some households would not have electricity restored until late July 8, nearly five days after the storms. 

The prolonged outages followed several days of extreme heat, increasing concerns about public safety and the resilience of Michigan’s electric grid.

Although the Make DTE Pay Act focuses on environmental enforcement, the legislation reflects a broader concern over utility responsibility. 

Rep. Tlaib introduced the bill after DTE faced a federal Clean Air Act penalty while continuing to pursue higher electric rates, arguing that investor-owned utilities should face greater consequences when seeking additional revenue after significant regulatory violations. 

“Corporate polluters like DTE treat violating our environmental protection laws as the cost of doing business,” Rep. Tlaib said. “It’s so insulting to our families that DTE wants to hack up their bills year after year while poisoning the air they breathe. We need to change the math and make polluting our communities as bad for business as it is for our health.”

State officials have also questioned the company’s continuing rate requests. 

In February 2026, the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) approved a $242.4 million rate increase for DTE Electric — nearly 58% less than the utility originally requested — saying the approved investments would continue grid upgrades, tree trimming and reliability improvements while rejecting spending, stating it found unsupported or not in customers’ best interests. 

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel urged the MPSC to reduce DTE’s latest proposed the natural gas rate increase by 85%, arguing that much of the company’s request failed to demonstrate meaningful benefits for customers.

“DTE is raking in record profits while turning around and asking Michigan families to foot the bill for bloated, unjustified costs,” Attorney Nessel said. “As no surprise, DTE has once again fattened its rate hike request with excessive and unwarranted expenses. I implore the MPSC to stand up for Michigan ratepayers, prioritize affordability for customers and not rubber-stamp the demands of utility corporations.” 

Regulators have recognized reliability improvements while continuing to reduce DTE’s requested increases. Consumer advocates continue arguing that customers shouldn’t have additional costs without stronger evidence that higher rates will produce measurable benefits. 

Consumer reimbursement has become another point of debate. Although Michigan increased its automatic outage credit to $42 per day, many customers affected by the recent outages still may not qualify because credits begin only after outages meet specific eligibility requirements.

Rep. Tlaib argues that the current reimbursement system does not reflect the financial losses many families experience.

“By Monday, our groceries will be spoiled and our medicines will not be usable,” Rep. Tlaib said. “The Michigan Public Services Commission thinks a $25 to $35 reimbursement rate is reasonable. It is not.”

The financial impact extends well beyond spoiled food. Residents may lose refrigerated medications, miss work, pay for temporary lodging or purchase generators and emergency supplies while waiting for electricity to return. Those expenses can quickly exceed the value of the current outage credit when outages last several days. 

DTE continues to invest in grid modernization, vegetation management and infrastructure improvements to strengthen reliability. 

DTE stated Michigan’s outage credits rank among the highest offered by utilities nationwide while also acknowledging they may not reimburse every expense customers experience during prolonged outages. 

“We know that any increase in bills matters for our customers and we’re committed to delivering clear value to them in return — through improved reliability, cleaner energy and continued efforts to keep bills as low as possible and beneath the national and regional averages,” DTE said. 

DTE said 2025 was its most reliable year in nearly two decades. Even so, many Michigan residents and lawmakers continue questioning whether those improvements are translating into dependable service when severe weather strikes.

The dedication of line workers restoring power after severe weather shouldn’t be overlooked. 

The broader issue, however, is whether Michigan’s regulatory framework provides enough incentive for reliable service while protecting customers who have little or no ability to choose another electric provider. 

Michigan lawmakers should revisit the state’s utility policies before approving future rate increases. 

Earlier automatic outage credits, stronger reliability benchmarks and greater transparency during rate cases would better balance the interests of utilities with the expectations of the residents who depend on them every day. 

The recent outages should be remembered for more than downed power lines and delayed restoration times. They should prompt lawmakers to examine whether Michigan’s utility laws still serve the public efficiently and effectively. 

Reliable electricity is an essential public service and the policies governing it should reflect the same level of accountability that residents expect from every other critical part of Michigan’s infrastructure.