HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
COMMITTEE ON ENERGY, COMMUNICATIONS, AND TECHNOLOGY
REP. HELENA SCOTT
CHAIR
COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, October 25, 2023
9:00 PM
Room 519, House Office Building
The House Committee on Energy, Communications, and Technology was called to order by
Chair Scott.
The Chair requested attendance be called:
Present: Reps. Scott, Andrews, Coleman, Whitsett, Byrnes, Churches, Hill, MacDonell,
McFall, Wendzel, Outman, Aragona, BeGole, Prestin, Schmaltz.
Absent: Reps. Neeley, Greene.
Excused: Reps. Neeley, Greene.
Representative McFall moved to adopt the meeting minutes from October 18, 2023. There
being no objection, the motion prevailed by unanimous consent.
The Chair laid HB 5216, HB 5218, HB 5219, HB 5220 and HB 5221 before the committee:
HB 5216
(Rep. Scott)
A bill to amend 1939 PA 3, entitled "An act to
provide for the regulation and control of public
and certain private utilities and other services
affected with a public interest within this state; to
provide for alternative energy suppliers; to provide
for licensing; to include municipally owned
utilities and other providers of energy under
certain provisions of this act; to create a public
service commission and to prescribe and define its
powers and duties; to abolish the Michigan public
utilities commission and to confer the powers and
duties vested by law on the public service
commission; to provide for the powers and duties
of certain state governmental officers and entities;
to provide for the continuance, transfer, and
completion of certain matters and proceedings; to
abolish automatic adjustment clauses; to prohibit
certain rate increases without notice and hearing;
to qualify residential energy conservation
programs permitted under state law for certain
federal exemption; to create a fund; to encourage
the utilization of resource recovery facilities; to
prohibit certain acts and practices of providers of
energy; to allow for the securitization of stranded
costs; to reduce rates; to provide for appeals; to
provide appropriations; to declare the effect and
purpose of this act; to prescribe remedies and
penalties; and to repeal acts and parts of acts," by
amending sections 6u and 10p (MCL 460.6u and
460.10p), section 6u as added and section 10p as
amended by 2016 PA 341.
HB 5218
(Rep. Hill)
A bill to require certain reports be submitted to the
Michigan public service commission; and to
provide for the powers and duties of certain state
and local governmental officers and entities.
HB 5219
(Rep. Fitzgerald)
A bill to amend 1939 PA 3, entitled "An act to
provide for the regulation and control of public
and certain private utilities and other services
affected with a public interest within this state; to
provide for alternative energy suppliers; to provide
for licensing; to include municipally owned
utilities and other providers of energy under
certain provisions of this act; to create a public
service commission and to prescribe and define its
powers and duties; to abolish the Michigan public
utilities commission and to confer the powers and
duties vested by law on the public service
commission; to provide for the powers and duties
of certain state governmental officers and entities;
to provide for the continuance, transfer, and
completion of certain matters and proceedings; to
abolish automatic adjustment clauses; to prohibit
certain rate increases without notice and hearing;
to qualify residential energy conservation
programs permitted under state law for certain
federal exemption; to create a fund; to encourage
the utilization of resource recovery facilities; to
prohibit certain acts and practices of providers of
energy; to allow for the securitization of stranded
costs; to reduce rates; to provide for appeals; to
provide appropriations; to declare the effect and
purpose of this act; to prescribe remedies and
penalties; and to repeal acts and parts of acts," by
amending sections 10p and 10t (MCL 460.10p and
460.10t), as amended by 2016 PA 341.
HB 5220
(Rep. Andrews)
A bill to amend 1939 PA 3, entitled "An act to
provide for the regulation and control of public
and certain private utilities and other services
affected with a public interest within this state; to
provide for alternative energy suppliers; to provide
for licensing; to include municipally owned
utilities and other providers of energy under
certain provisions of this act; to create a public
service commission and to prescribe and define its
powers and duties; to abolish the Michigan public
utilities commission and to confer the powers and
duties vested by law on the public service
commission; to provide for the powers and duties
of certain state governmental officers and entities;
to provide for the continuance, transfer, and
completion of certain matters and proceedings; to
abolish automatic adjustment clauses; to prohibit
certain rate increases without notice and hearing;
to qualify residential energy conservation
programs permitted under state law for certain
federal exemption; to create a fund; to encourage
the utilization of resource recovery facilities; to
prohibit certain acts and practices of providers of
energy; to allow for the securitization of stranded
costs; to reduce rates; to provide for appeals; to
provide appropriations; to declare the effect and
purpose of this act; to prescribe remedies and
penalties; and to repeal acts and parts of acts,"
(MCL 460.1 to 460.11) by adding section 6y.
HB 5221
(Rep. Neeley)
A bill to amend 1939 PA 3, entitled "An act to
provide for the regulation and control of public
and certain private utilities and other services
affected with a public interest within this state; to
provide for alternative energy suppliers; to provide
for licensing; to include municipally owned
utilities and other providers of energy under
certain provisions of this act; to create a public
service commission and to prescribe and define its
powers and duties; to abolish the Michigan public
utilities commission and to confer the powers and
duties vested by law on the public service
commission; to provide for the powers and duties
of certain state governmental officers and entities;
to provide for the continuance, transfer, and
completion of certain matters and proceedings; to
abolish automatic adjustment clauses; to prohibit
certain rate increases without notice and hearing;
to qualify residential energy conservation
programs permitted under state law for certain
federal exemption; to create a fund; to encourage
the utilization of resource recovery facilities; to
prohibit certain acts and practices of providers of
energy; to allow for the securitization of stranded
costs; to reduce rates; to provide for appeals; to
provide appropriations; to declare the effect and
purpose of this act; to prescribe remedies and
penalties; and to repeal acts and parts of acts," by
amending sections 9d, 9q, and 9r (MCL 460.9d,
460.9q, and 460.9r), section 9d as added by 2010
PA 128, section 9q as amended by 2011 PA 274,
and section 9r as added by 2009 PA 174.
Chair Scott introduced the bill package and made a statement regarding the background of
how the the bills came to be.
At 9:10 AM, the Chair laid the committee at ease.
At 9:10 AM, the Chair called the committee back to order.
At 9:10 AM, the Chair laid the committee at ease.
At 9:11 AM, Rep. Coleman called the committee back to order.
Chair Helena Scott testified in support of HB 5216. Questions and discussion followed.
Representative Andrews testified in support of HB 5219 and HB 5220. Questions and
discussion followed.
Representative Hill testified in support of HB 5218.
At 9:21 AM, Rep. Coleman laid the committee at ease.
At 9:22 AM, the Chair called the committee back to order.
The following people submitted a card in opposition to HB 5219, but did not wish to speak:
Stephanie Johnson, representing the Utility Workers Union of America.
The following people submitted a card with a neutral position on HB 5216, HB 5218, HB
5219, HB 5220 and HB 5221, but did not wish to speak:
Mike O'Brien, representing the I & M Power.
The Chair laid SB 277 before the committee:
SB 277
(Sen. McDonald Rivet)
A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled "Natural
resources and environmental protection act," by
amending sections 36101 and 36104a (MCL
324.36101 and 324.36104a), section 36101 as
amended by 2016 PA 265 and section 36104a as
added by 1996 PA 233, and by adding sections
36104c and 36104e.
Senator McDonald Rivet testified in support of SB 277.
Ed Rivet representing the Michigan Conservative Enrgy Forum testified in support of SB
277. Questions and discussion followed.
The following people submitted a card with a neutral position on SB 277, but did not wish to
speak:
Andrew Vermeesch, representing the Michigan Farm Bureau.
The following people submitted a card in support of SB 277, but did not wish to speak:
Chris Semrinec, representing the Michigan League of Conservation Voters.
Kathleen Angerer, representing the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural
Develoment.
Jim Murray, representing the Lightstar Renewables.
Jim Murray, representing the Summit Ridge Energy.
Carlee Knott, representing the Michigan Environmental Council.
Justin Carpenter, representing the Michigan EIBC.
Mike alaimo, representing the Michigan Chamber of Commerce.
Courtney Bourgoin, representing the Evergreen Action.
Amanda Stallings, representing the National Grid Renewables.
Caroline Liethen, representing the Michigan Manufacturers Association.
Representative Andrews moved to report out SB 277 with recommendation. The motion
prevailed 9-4-2:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Scott, Andrews, Coleman, Whitsett, Byrnes, Churches, Hill, MacDonell,
McFall.
Nays: Reps. Wendzel, Outman, BeGole, Prestin.
Pass: Reps. Aragona, Schmaltz.
Representative Andrews moved to excuse Representatives Neeley and Greene from the
meeting. There being no objection the motion prevailed by unanimous consent.
There being no further business before the committee, Chair Scott adjourned the meeting at
9:45 AM.
Representative Helena Scott, Chair
Molly Wingrove
Committee Clerk
mwingrove@house.mi.gov
Date Adopted: November 1,
2023