Michigan commission to hold three hearings on draft plans for integrated resource plan parameters
The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) recently scheduled three hearings to assist in developing parameters of the integrated resource plans (IRP) rate-regulated utilities must use under the state’s new energy laws.
Utilities will use the IRPs to identify and assess options for meeting electricity demand. The plans will consider considered demand response, energy waste reduction, environmental requirements,
planning reserve margins, and other factors. Utilities will use modeling scenarios to test the plans.
The IRPs are a central piece of new energy laws that are designed to increase affordability, enhance
reliability and safeguard the environment.
The MPSC also requested that its staff develop draft IRP parameters to be filed on the docket by August 31. The MPSC staff, the Michigan Agency for Energy (MAE) and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) have held 11 meetings with stakeholders to help create a draft plan.
The commission will seek comments on the draft plans at the three scheduled meetings, which will take place on September 6, 13 and 19 at Schoolcraft College, the L.V. Eberhard Center and the Erie Room at Northern Michigan University’s University Center-Huron respectively. Michigan commissioners will attend the hearings.
