Oakland County intervenes in DTE Electric Company 10% rate increase case to fight for lower rates

September 11, 2026, OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. – The Oakland County Board of Commissioners opposes DTE Electric Company’s (DTE) proposed rate increase request, which would go into effect by March 2027, due to its financial impact on residents. Oakland County has taken steps to intervene in proceedings before the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC).

Article VII, Section 15 of the Michigan Constitution empowers counties to intervene in proceedings involving the services, charges or rates of privately owned public utilities serving residents in the county. Oakland County was the first county in Michigan to exercise its constitutional right to intervene and has retained legal counsel and expert witnesses to make its case.

To demonstrate the rising costs for households across the county, the Board is inviting residents to voluntarily share two DTE statements to show how their bills have increased from the most recent rate increase already in effect.

“A 10% rate increase is unaffordable for Oakland County’s working families,” said Board Chair David T. Woodward (D-Royal Oak). “We will fight for lower rates and use every tool in our power to help our residents.”

The county has reason to believe the effective electric bills from the last rate increase are more than what was approved. Rate payers voluntarily sharing their bills will help the county prove this and support its affordability argument. 

Residents willing to share their December 2025 and April 2026 statements to show how the increase is impacting their household budget may voluntarily submit them at https://bit.ly/OpposeDTEIncrease. 

On April 28, 2026, DTE requested approval of an electric service rate increase affecting residents, businesses and public institutions with the MPSC, shortly after a previously approved rate increase of nearly 5% went into effect in March 2026. In response, the Board and Oakland County have taken the following steps this year to protect the interests of Oakland County residents, businesses and public institutions:

• May 21: The Board approved a resolution during its meeting to authorize Oakland County to intervene in rate approval proceedings, becoming the first county in Michigan to use its authority under the Michigan Constitution. 
• August 26: The county submitted testimony to the MPSC in DTE’s 2026 general electric rate case, presenting an analysis of the issue of affordability in the county for electricity services. The testimony also asked MPSC to require DTE to announce the net effective rate increase of any approved rate increase and for it to audit residential and commercial customer bills to ensure customers are on the most affordable rate possible.
• September 11: The Board opened a voluntary submission portal for residents to share their December 2025 and April 2026 DTE statements to demonstrate the financial impact on household budgets. 

The Macomb County and Wayne County commissions have also taken actions to intervene in the same DTE rate case. For more information about the Board of Commissioners, please visit OakGov.com/BOC or call 248-858-0100.