Michigan electric providers possess adequate electric supplies through 2023
In a review of the capabilities of the state’s electric providers, the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) this week established that all can meet customer electricity supply needs through 2023.
This was an annual review conducted to guarantee the long-term reliability of the various providers’ energy supplies. All investor-owned utilities, alternative electric suppliers, cooperatives and municipally-owned utilities are required to demonstrate sufficient capacity to the MPSC, with that capacity governed by either MPSC guidelines or those set by the regional transmission organizations Midcontinent Independent System Operator Inc. and PJM Interconnection LLC.
Most of the Lower Peninsula has exceeded a local clearing requirement by 1,300 megawatts, while the Upper Peninsula is merely sufficient. For 2022-2023, MPSC staff also reported increased levels of demand response resources, to allow customers more control over their energy use at peak demand periods.
This week the MPSC also did away with a ban that prevented aggregators from bidding demand response into wholesale electric markets for retail choice customers, though retail customers of regulated electric utilities are still forbidden from direct participation in wholesale markets.
