Michigan lawmakers should cap utility rate increases and give families relief

Like millions of working Americans, I live paycheck to paycheck. With the high cost of everyday goods and soaring utility bills, I’m barely keeping it together. Every month is a high wire balancing act, and the biggest thing throwing me off balance is my utility bills. I want a life where I can put some money away for retirement and spend quality time with my children and grandchildren. That is not too much to ask, yet it feels so far out of reach.

My electric bill alone runs between $106 and $120 a month, and it’s even higher during the summer when Michigan heat becomes unbearable. I’ve been a Consumers Energy customer for as long as I can remember, and the rates keep climbing year after year. When my electricity bill skyrockets, I have to give up something else, whether it’s gas, food or medicine. I have to put retirement savings on hold in order to take care of today’s bills, putting the idea of retirement even further away.

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Right now, I’m waiting to find out whether my insurance will cover medication that could cost me $200 out of pocket. The reality for far too many people in Michigan today is battling just to cover the necessities, let alone any simple things that bring us joy, connection and relief from daily stress.

Michigan lawmakers need to step in to address skyrocketing costs. They can start somewhere small, by placing a cap on how much utility companies can raise rates year after year. Consumers Energy reported over $8.5 billion in revenue in 2025. They have more than enough money to function without continuing to gouge customers in Michigan. Our state politicians may not be able to control gas prices, insurance premiums or food costs, but they can help keep our utility rates in line.

A utility rate cap would help families budget each month and provide more predictability. These days, it feels like every grocery trip, doctor’s visit or gas tank refill is more expensive than the last. Our utility bills don’t have to follow the same pattern.

Other states are already recognizing that soaring utility bills deserve immediate attention. New Jersey recently implemented legislation that freezes rate hikes and declared an electricity affordability emergency and moved to freeze rate hikes. If they are serious about affordability issues, Michigan lawmakers need to show the same sense of urgency for us.

We cannot expect corporations like Consumers Energy to hold themselves accountable, so our lawmakers need to step in. In fact, Consumers Energy continues asking customers for more. After receiving one rate increase, the company is already back asking for another. Meanwhile, their executives earn salaries most working people can’t even imagine. It is outrageous for Consumers Energy to ask for more money from Michigan families while paying their CEO millions of dollars.

Read the room: Michigan families are struggling and skyrocketing utility bills are at the center of the problem.

I believe all Americans should be able to afford a good life – no exceptions. That is not a crazy idea. And yet, people like me, who work hard and have done everything right, are falling further behind every year because the cost of basic necessities keeps rising faster than their paychecks. It’s time to do something about it.

A cap on utility rates would be life-changing for millions of Michiganders. It would help me save up for retirement and put more money aside for my children and grandchildren. It would help seniors living on fixed incomes and parents who are trying to provide good lives for their families. Beyond just a few extra dollars each month, a utility rate cap would provide stability, predictability and accountability.

As our nation marks 250 years of independence, lawmakers should remember the people who keep this state running: caregivers, custodians, factory workers, teachers, retirees, parents and grandparents and so many more. We are doing our part and then some. All we’re asking for is a shot at the American Dream and for lawmakers to stop Consumers Energy from making it more out of the grasp of everyday people.