MLive reports: “Consumers Energy gets permission for largest electric rate increase in decades” –https://www.mlive.com/news/2026/03/consumers-energy-gets-permission-for-largest-electric-rate-increase-in-decades.html
This is just one more reason that the Ottawa County Board and townships with Consumers Energy should support and participate in the exploratory committee for a locally controlled electric cooperative. So far it has not even been added as an agenda item on an Ottawa County Board meeting, which every Board member has a right to add. But seven township boards are already participating, and there is reason to believe more will join.
The Ottawa County Board properly acknowledged it role in defending county citizens with respect to “services, charges or rates of any privately owned public utility”, in its Campbell resolution:
“WHEREAS, the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners has the authority to “enter or to intervene in any action or certificate proceeding involving the services, charges or rates of any privately owned public utility furnishing services or commodities to rate payers within the County.” (Article VII, Section 15 of the Constitution of the State of Michigan, 1964, as amended)
We very much appreciate how the County Board stood up in passing the Campbell resolution, and now we ask that the County Board take the further step of joining the exploratory committee for a locally controlled electric cooperative. The Ottawa County Board and townships should be exploring ways to provide rate reductions and energy security to all county residents, introducing competition through an electric cooperative board where currently there is only a monopoly jacking up prices.