LANSING, MI - The largest natural gas utility in Michigan has the all clear to raise rates as temperatures begin to drop this fall.

Consumers Energy won approval from state regulators on Tuesday, Sept. 30 to hike rates by $157 million beginning in November — about 36% less than the for-profit utility initially asked for last year .

The hike is expected to increase monthly bills by $4.44 or 6.88% for a residential customer with typical usage, according to the Michigan Public Service Commission, which oversees gas companies.

Regulators said the rising rates will fund important safety and reliability investments, like replacing higher-risk vintage gas mains and detecting methane leaks, while balancing affordability concerns and state goals to cut emissions from planet-warming fossil fu

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