(CBS DETROIT) – A new Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) audit found that the time required to restore DTE Electric and Consumers Energy service in 2022 and 2023 was “worse than average among utilities.”
The independent, third-party audit released Monday surveyed the two companies, which serve 4.1 million customers. The results come after MPSC launched an investigation in 2022 amid reports of widespread outages and public frustration, according to a news release.
MPSC said the audit, conducted by Pennsylvania-based Liberty Consulting Group, took over a year to complete and compared DTE and Consumers to similar utilities — Commonwealth Edison and Ameren, both in Illinois, and Lansing Board of Water and Light in Michigan.
“It provides an unprecedented examination of the condition of the electric grid serving those customers, an incredibly valuable tool as the MPSC continues its work to reduce power outages, shorten the time for restoration of power after storms, and keep residents safe when power lines come down — in short, a roadmap to achieving a grid that meets customer expectations,” MPSC Chair Dan Scripps said in a statement.