ATTORNEY GENERAL V MPSC
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
ATTORNEY GENERAL,
UNPUBLISHED
November 22, 2005
APPROVED FOR
PUBLICATION
January 19, 2006
9:05 a.m.
Appellant,
v
MICHIGAN PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION,
CONSUMERS ENERGY COMPANY,
MACKINAW POWER, LLC, and NORTH
AMERICAN WIND ENERGY, LLC,
No. 256180
MPSC
LC No. 00-013843
Appellees.
_________________________________________
ATTORNEY GENERAL,
Appellant,
v
MICHIGAN PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
and CONSUMERS ENERGY COMPANY,
No. 261028
MPSC
LC No. 00-013843
Appellees.
ATTORNEY GENERAL,
Appellant,
v
MICHIGAN PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
and CONSUMERS ENERGY COMPANY,
Appellees.
No. 263063
MPSC
LC No. 00-014471
Official Reported Version
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Before: Donofrio, P.J., and Zahra and Kelly, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
In these consolidated cases, appellant Attorney General appeals as of right orders entered
on May 18, 2004, January 25, 2005, and April 28, 2005, by appellee Michigan Public Service
Commission (PSC) granting in part and denying in part an application filed by appellees
Mackinaw Power, LLC (Mackinaw), and North American Wind Energy (NAWE), approving a
renewable resource program proposed by appellee Consumers Energy Company (CEC), and
approving CEC's proposed tariff. We affirm in part and reverse in part.
I. Underlying Facts and Proceedings
On June 5, 2000, 2000 PA 141, the Customer Choice and Electricity Reliability Act
(CCERA), MCL 460.10 et seq., became effective. The Legislature enacted the CCERA as part
of its decision to deregulate the electric utility industry in Michigan. Attorney General v Pub
Service Comm, 249 Mich App 424, 426; 642 NW2d 691 (2002). The stated purposes of the
CCERA included: (a) ensuring that retail electric power customers have a choice of electric
suppliers, (b) allowing the PSC to foster competition in the provision of electric supply and to
maintain regulation of that supply, (c) encouraging the diversification of ownership of electric
supply, (d) ensuring that all persons in Michigan are provided reliable electric power at
affordable rates, and (e) improving opportunities for economic development in the state and
promoting competitive and financially healthy utilities. MCL 460.10(2).
The CCERA required the PSC to establish a renewable energy program.
460.10r(6) provided:
MCL
The commission shall establish the Michigan renewables [sic] energy
program. The program shall be designed to inform customers in this state of the
availability and value of using renewable energy generation and the potential of
reduced pollution. The program shall also be designed to promote the use of
existing renewable energy sources and encourage the development of new
facilities.[1]
The PSC staff submitted a proposal for implementation of the Michigan Renewables Energy
Program. The matter was docketed as Case No. U-12915. The PSC accepted public comments
regarding the staff 's proposal and subsequently modified and accepted the proposal.
CEC filed an application in Case No. U-13029 for authority to establish a voluntary
program designed to encourage the use of renewable energy sources. CEC proposed a "green
power" pilot program to encourage the development of new, zero-emissions renewable energy
1
"'Renewable energy source' means energy generated by solar, wind, geothermal, biomass,
including waste-to-energy and landfill gas, or hydroelectric." MCL 460.10g(1)(f).
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resources in Michigan. The program was to be limited to 50 megavolt-ampheres of electric
capacity generated through the use of wind, solar rays, or other renewable energy resources, and
was to be available to all CEC residential, commercial, and industrial customers. The PSC
approved CEC's application.
Mackinaw and NAWE filed an application in Case No. U-13843 seeking to amend and
make permanent CEC's renewable energy program approved in Case No. U-13029. Mackinaw
and NAWE requested that the PSC create a permanent green power program with long-term,
firm-priced energy purchase agreements, sought to have the PSC encourage CEC to offer tariffs
that would allow customers to commit to the purchase of green power on a long-term basis, and
recommended that the PSC ensure that, if CEC's green power program incurred costs that
exceeded its revenues, those costs could be recovered in a nonbypassable surcharge paid by all
customers that used CEC's distribution system and whose rates could be surcharged.
In its order of May 18, 2004, the PSC granted in part and denied in part the application
filed by Mackinaw and NAWE. The PSC found that while circumstances did not require that it
revise or replace CEC's existing zero emissions program, it should take further steps to promote
renewable resources, as required by MCL 460.10r(6). The PSC concluded that it had the
authority pursuant to MCL 460.10b(1) and MCL 460.10r(6) to require CEC to offer an
additional renewable energy program, and approved the use of long-term contracts of up to
twenty years between CEC and its suppliers. The PSC directed CEC to file an application to
implement a new renewable resource program. Mackinaw and NAWE were granted the
exclusive right to develop new wind power projects up to the limits set forth in their existing
projects. The PSC found that CEC should be authorized to implement a funding mechanism to
recover green power program costs not covered by the contributions of customers who agreed to
pay premium rates for green power, and authorized CEC to levy a charge of $0.05 a meter each
month on all customer meters, including customers who did not utilize green power. The funds
collected from that charge were to be placed into a renewable resource program fund, and would
be used to compensate CEC for costs not covered by premiums paid by green power customers.
This funding mechanism was to operate without affecting CEC's power supply cost recovery
costs.
In accordance with the PSC's order of May 18, 2004, CEC filed an application in Case
No. U-13843 for implementation of a new renewable resource program. The PSC solicited and
received comments from interested parties, but did not hold a further evidentiary hearing on
CEC's proposed new program. In its order of January 25, 2005, the PSC considered CEC's
proposed new program, concluded that a further evidentiary hearing was unnecessary, and
directed CEC to file an application seeking approval of its proposed renewable resource program
tariff.
In accordance with the PSC's order of January 25, 2005, CEC filed an amended
renewable resource program tariff. In its order of April 28, 2005, the PSC granted ex parte
approval of the tariff, but denied as premature CEC's request to recover various administrative
costs.
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The Attorney General claimed appeals from the PSC's orders of May 18, 2004 (Docket
No. 256180), January 25, 2005 (Docket No. 261028), and April 28, 2005 (Docket No. 263063).
We consolidated the appeals for the purposes of hearing and decision.
II. Standard of Review
The standard of review for PSC orders is narrow and well-defined. Pursuant to MCL
462.25, all rates, fares, charges, classification and joint rates, regulations, practices, and services
prescribed by the PSC are presumed, prima facie, to be lawful and reasonable. Michigan
Consolidated Gas Co v Pub Service Comm, 389 Mich 624, 635-636; 209 NW2d 210 (1973). A
party allegedly aggrieved by an order of the PSC has the burden of proving by clear and
satisfactory evidence that the order is unlawful or unreasonable. MCL 462.26(8). To establish
that a PSC order is unlawful, the appellant must show that the PSC failed to follow a mandatory
statute or abused its discretion in the exercise of its judgment. In re MCI Telecom Complaint,
460 Mich 396, 427; 596 NW2d 164 (1999). An order is unreasonable if it is arbitrary,
capricious, or not totally supported by the evidence. Associated Truck Lines, Inc v Public
Service Comm, 377 Mich 259, 279; 140 NW2d 515 (1966) (dissenting opinion by O'Hara, J.).
A final order of the PSC must be authorized by law and supported by competent,
material, and substantial evidence on the whole record. Const 1963, art 6, § 28; Attorney
General v Pub Service Comm, 165 Mich App 230, 235; 418 NW2d 660 (1987).
We defer to the PSC's administrative expertise, and will not substitute our judgment for
that of the PSC. Attorney General v Pub Service Comm No 2, 237 Mich App 82, 88; 602 NW2d
225 (1999). We give great weight to any reasonable construction of a regulatory scheme that the
PSC is empowered to administer, Champion's Auto Ferry, Inc v Pub Service Comm, 231 Mich
App 699, 707-708; 588 NW2d 153 (1998), but we may not abandon our responsibility to
interpret statutory language and legislative intent, Miller Bros v Pub Service Comm, 180 Mich
App 227, 232; 446 NW2d 640 (1989). We do not afford the same measure of deference to an
agency's initial interpretation of new legislation as we do to a longstanding interpretation. In re
Procedure & Format for Filing Tariffs Under the Michigan Telecom Act, 210 Mich App 533,
538-539; 534 NW2d 194 (1995). "Whether the PSC exceeded the scope of its authority is a
question of law that we review de novo." In re Complaint of Pelland Against Ameritech
Michigan, 254 Mich App 675, 682; 658 NW2d 849 (2003).
The PSC possesses only that authority granted to it by the Legislature. Authority must be
granted by clear and unmistakable language. A doubtful power does not exist. Attorney General
v Pub Service Comm, 231 Mich App 76, 78; 585 NW2d 310 (1998).
III. Analysis
A. Statutory Authority to Authorize Surcharge
Appellant argues that the PSC lacked the statutory authority to empower CEC to require
customers who had not voluntarily agreed to pay a premium for green power to pay an additional
charge of $0.05 a meter each month to subsidize the cost of green power projects. Neither MCL
460.10b(1) nor MCL 460.10r(6) contains clear and unambiguous language authorizing the PSC
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to allow a utility to impose a charge on a customer for a program not utilized by that customer.
Furthermore, appellant notes that MCL 460.6d(1) provides that the owner of a renewable
resource power production facility is not subject to regulation by the PSC if, before the
construction of the renewable resource power facility, the owner was not a public utility subject
to regulation by the PSC. The PSC's conclusion that MCL 460.10b(1) and MCL 460.10r(6)
authorized it to empower CEC to collect a subsidy from customers who had not voluntarily
agreed to pay a premium for green power acts to negate, at least in part, MCL 460.6d(1).
Appellant contends that the PSC's interpretation and application of MCL 460.10b(1) and MCL
460.10r(6), which interpretation and application authorize CEC to force its customers to pay a
higher rate than would be necessary if CEC used lower-cost alternative power, is in
contravention of MCL 460.6j(6).
We hold that the PSC lacked the statutory authority to authorize CEC to impose an
additional charge of $0.05 a meter each month on all customers, including customers who had
not agreed to pay a premium to receive green power, to finance the development of renewable
resource power programs. The PSC established a renewable energy program, as required by
MCL 460.10r(6). The PSC's authority to set rates that facilitate the development of new energy
technologies is set out in MCL 460.10b(1); however, that authority does not include the power to
make management decisions on behalf of a utility. Union Carbide Corp v Pub Service Comm,
431 Mich 135, 148; 428 NW2d 322 (1988). The PSC's ability to consider a wide variety of
factors when setting rates is well-established, Detroit Edison Co v Pub Service Comm, 221 Mich
App 370, 375; 562 NW2d 224 (1997), but is not unlimited. MCL 460.10b(1) and MCL
460.10r(6) were enacted as part of the CCERA. The Legislature clearly intended consumer
participation in green power programs to be voluntary. Neither MCL 460.10b(1) nor MCL
460.10r(6) specifically authorizes the PSC to enable a utility to compel customers to pay to
support a voluntary renewable resource energy program even if they have not chosen to receive
power from the program. The PSC exceeded its authority in concluding to the contrary. In re
Complaint of Pelland, supra.
Requiring all customers to pay a monthly charge to build a fund to compensate CEC for
costs associated with the development of renewable resource energy programs might well have
positive economic and public policy implications; however, we must not consider such
implications when determining if the PSC acted within its statutory authority. Consumers Power
Co v Pub Service Comm, 460 Mich 148, 156; 596 NW2d 126 (1999).
We note that appellant's reliance on MCL 460.6d(1) and MCL 460.6j(6) as support for its
assertion that the PSC exceeded its authority by enabling CEC to impose a $0.05 a meter each
month charge on all customers to fund green power programs is misplaced. Mackinaw and
NAWE own the renewable resource production facilities, and thus are unaffected by CEC's
imposition of the surcharge. Moreover, MCL 460.6j(6) does not limit a utility's ability to
recover costs only to those situations in which the utility has used the lowest-cost energy
available. Nevertheless, we conclude that the PSC's order enabling CEC to impose the $0.05 a
meter each month charge on all customers is unlawful, MCL 462.26(8), and reverse that portion
of the PSC's May 18, 2004, order authorizing the charge.
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B. Issuance of Order Without Hearing
Appellant argues that the PSC's January 25, 2005, order directing CEC to file an
application seeking approval of its proposed renewable resource program tariff is unlawful
because the PSC did not hold a contested case hearing before issuing the order. Appellant notes
that the PSC may not issue an order altering or amending an order fixing any rate without notice
and an opportunity to be heard. MCL 462.24.
MCL 462.24 provides:
The commission may, at any time upon application of any person or any
common carrier, and upon at least ten [10] days' notice to the parties interested,
including the common carrier, and after opportunity to be heard as provided in
section twenty-two [22], rescind, alter or amend any order fixing any rate or rates,
fares, charges or classifications, or any other order made by the commission, and
certified copies shall be served and take effect as herein provided for original
orders.
This argument is without merit. In accordance with the PSC's May 18, 2004, order, the
CEC filed an application to implement a new renewable energy program. Thereafter, the PSC
solicited comments from interested parties. Various parties, including appellant, submitted
comments. Appellant contended that the PSC was required to conduct another contested case
hearing before approving CEC's tariff for the new program. In its January 25, 2005, order, the
PSC concluded that further hearings were not necessary, given that sufficient notice and an
opportunity to be heard existed before the issuance of the May 18, 2004, order and that the
January 25, 2005, order did not significantly alter the May 18, 2004, order.
MCL 462.22, the § 22 referred to in MCL 462.24, provides that if the PSC receives a
complaint that any rate charged by a common carrier is unreasonable, the PSC shall, after issuing
notice to interested parties and providing an opportunity for those parties to be heard, investigate
the matter and issue an order addressing the complaint. In the instant proceeding, the PSC did
not receive a complaint asserting that a tariff for CEC's renewable resource energy program was
unreasonable. Rather, in its May 18, 2004, order, the PSC directed CEC to offer a new
renewable resource energy program. Thereafter, the PSC solicited comments on CEC's proposed
new program. The PSC's January 25, 2005, order did not amend any tariff, but simply approved
CEC's proposal and directed CEC to submit an application seeking approval of a tariff for the
new program. No violation of MCL 462.24 occurred. The PSC's January 25, 2005, order is not
unlawful. MCL 462.26(8).2
2
We note that the PSC argues on appeal that, because appellant did not challenge the PSC's
directive that CEC implement a new renewable resources program in its appeal of the May 18,
2004, order (Docket No. 256180), it has waived that objection. This argument is without merit.
Appellant does not challenge as unlawful or unreasonable the PSC's directive that CEC offer a
new renewable resources program. Rather, appellant challenges the PSC's decision to approve
(continued…)
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C. Lawfulness of Extension of CEC's Contracts
In an order entered on December 22, 2004, the PSC directed CEC to extend provisions of
its previous tariff and its supplier contracts with Mackinaw and NAWE for 30 days beyond their
original expiration date of December 31, 2004, i.e., until January 30, 2005. The PSC also
extended the exclusive opportunity previously provided Mackinaw and NAWE to develop new
green power projects for an additional 30 days, also until January 30, 2005.3 Appellant argues
that the PSC lacked the statutory authority to compel CEC to extend its contracts with its
suppliers.
We hold that this issue is moot. An issue is moot if an event has occurred that renders it
impossible for the court to grant relief. We will review a moot issue only if it is publicly
significant and is likely to recur, yet is likely to evade judicial review. City of Warren v Detroit,
261 Mich App 165, 166 n 1; 680 NW2d 57 (2004). The PSC ordered the extension of CEC's
previous tariff, CEC's contracts with Mackinaw and NAWE, and the exclusive opportunity
afforded Mackinaw and NAWE to develop green power projects for an additional 30 days to
preserve the status quo until it could complete its review of CEC's proposed additional green
power project. Under other circumstances, such an order of extension could be viewed as an
unlawful encroachment on CEC's management prerogatives. See Union Carbide Corp, supra at
151. However, the extension was necessitated by the procedural posture of this case, and the
period of extension has expired. This issue is moot and, under the circumstances presented by
this case, does not warrant review. City of Warren, supra.
D. Authority to Require CEC to Purchase a Minimum Percentage of Electricity Supplies from
Renewable Energy Suppliers
Appellant argues that the PSC exceeded its authority in its January 25, 2005, order when
it directed CEC to purchase a minimum percentage of its electric power supply from renewable
energy suppliers. Appellant emphasizes that the PSC's regulatory authority does not include the
ability to make management decisions. Union Carbide, supra; see also Consumers Power Co v
Pub Service Comm, 189 Mich App 151, 179-180; 472 NW2d 77 (1991).
(…continued)
CEC's proposal for the new program without conducting a new hearing. This decision was not
contained in the PSC's order of May 18, 2004; therefore, appellant had no opportunity to
challenge it in its appeal of that order.
3
In its December 22, 2004, order, the PSC noted that in its order of May 18, 2004, it stated that
Mackinaw and NAWE would have the exclusive opportunity to develop new green power
projects until December 31, 2004, up to the amount specified in their existing contracts with
CEC. The PSC observed that at the time it issued the May 18, 2004, order, it anticipated that it
would issue a subsequent order in Case No. U-13843 before December 31, 2004 (i.e., approving
CEC's proposed new green power project). However, the PSC found that it could not issue the
subsequent order before December 31, 2004, and therefore issued the December 22, 2004, order
to preserve the status quo for 30 days, until January 30, 2005.
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This issue is without merit. In its January 25, 2005, order, the PSC stated that CEC
estimated that its renewable resource program fund, including the surcharge of $0.05 a meter
each month imposed on all customers, would be sufficient to support the purchase of 100
megawatts (MW) of wind energy or 75 MW of landfill gas production, even if additional
customers did not agree to purchase green power. The PSC indicated that it expected that these
quantities of green power would be "sufficient to provide developers with reasonable
opportunities to achieve practical economies of scale." However, the PSC specifically stated that
it declined to "prescribe a specific quantity [of supply] to be purchased at this time, or a specific
time schedule for Consumers to obtaining [sic] a specific quantity." Appellant points to no
language in the PSC's order that supports its assertion; therefore, we deem this challenge to be
abandoned on appeal. People v Watson, 245 Mich App 572, 587; 629 NW2d 411 (2001); Hall v
Small, 267 Mich App 330, 335; 705 NW2d 741 (2005).
E. Authority to Issue Ex Parte Order Approving CEC's Tariff
Appellant argues that the PSC's ex parte order of April 28, 2005, in which it approved
CEC's proposed tariff for its new renewable resource program, is unlawful. Appellant asserts
that the PSC violated MCL 462.24 by approving the tariff on an ex parte basis.
This issue is without merit. For the reasons discussed in part B, we conclude that the
requirements of MCL 462.24 were inapplicable to this case. The PSC's decision that no hearing
was needed was a reasonable interpretation of the regulatory scheme it is empowered to
administer and is entitled to great deference. Champion's Auto Ferry, supra.
IV. Conclusion
That portion of the PSC's May 18, 2004, order authorizing CEC to impose a $0.05 a
meter each month charge on all customers to finance green power projects is reversed on the
ground that the PSC lacked the statutory authority to approve such a surcharge. The remainder
of the May 18, 2004, order, and the orders of January 25, 2005, and April 28, 2005, are lawful
and reasonable, comply with the legislative intent of the enabling statutes, and are supported by
the requisite evidence.
Affirmed in part and reversed in part.
/s/ Pat M. Donofrio
/s/ Brian K. Zahra
/s/ Kirsten Frank Kelly
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