JOHN JAMES UNVEILS PLAN TO LOWER ENERGY COSTS, HOLD BIG UTILITIES ACCOUNTABLE

SHELBY TOWNSHIP, MI — Today, John James held a press conference announcing his plan to lower energy costs, improve reliability, hold Michigan’s big utilities accountable, and put ratepayers first.

Michigan families are paying the highest residential electricity rates in the Midwest while dealing with the worst reliability in the country. Meanwhile, families continue to face repeated outages and utilities continue seeking additional rate increases.

“Energy costs and utility rates in Michigan are out of control. Since 2019 residential electricity rates alone have increased by over 28%. We talk all the time about competing with Mexico and China, but we can barely compete with other states in the Midwest. We have to make sure that we’re doing everything to make sure energy in our state is reliable and economical. This plan is how we get there.”

— John James

John James’ plan will:

Put affordability first: Hold regulated residential bill growth at or below inflation and require utilities seeking rate increases to clearly show what they will cost Michigan families.
Make utilities earn their money: Tie utility profits to lower costs, fewer outages, faster restoration, and better reliability, not simply how much utilities spend.
Fire MPSC rate hikers: Replace MPSC commissioners who have consistently approved massive rate increases with commissioners who will protect Michigan ratepayers, and end secret communications, meetings, and non-disclosure agreements.
Repair, harden, or bury failing lines: Target Michigan’s worst-performing circuits and determine the most cost-effective long-term solution to keep the lights on.
Strengthen outage compensation: Increase automatic compensation for families experiencing long or repeated outages and use smart-meter data to prioritize chronically failing neighborhoods.
Increase energy choice: Raise Michigan’s electric-choice cap from 10% to 30%, giving more residents the opportunity to choose their electricity provider while protecting consumers from hidden fees and abusive contracts.
Reverse costly energy mandates: Repeal PA 235 and pursue an all-of-the-above energy strategy where nuclear, natural gas, renewables, storage, existing plants, and new technologies compete on cost and reliability.
Protect the People: Require local approval and transparency surrounding data centers, protect ratepayers and Michigan’s air, land, water, and noise, while prioritizing brownfields over productive farmland.
Open the books: Strengthen disclosure of utility lobbying and political spending, expand competitive bidding, and bring greater transparency to rate cases, contracts, and regulatory decisions.

John James is going to rebuild Michigan by lowering energy costs and smashing our state’s corrupt utility duopoly.

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Press Release

Press Release

JOHN JAMES UNVEILS PLAN TO LOWER ENERGY COSTS, HOLD BIG UTILITIES ACCOUNTABLE