Michigan Senate Bill SB0369

Michigan 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 6/10/25
• Refer: 6/10/25

Caption

Public utilities: public service commission; calculation of costs of renewable energy; provide for. Amends 1939 PA 3 (MCL 460.1 - 460.11) by adding sec. 6y.

Summary

Senate Bill 369 would require the Michigan Public Service Commission to create an online transparency tool by December 31, 2026 that calculates the cost of renewable energy to customers over the full useful life of a renewable energy system. The tool must include both upfront construction-related costs and end-of-life costs, such as decommissioning, disposal of components, and site remediation. The bill defines renewable energy and renewable energy system by reference to existing law in the Clean and Renewable Energy and Energy Waste Reduction Act. The measure is narrow in scope and does not directly change utility rates or authorize new projects; instead, it adds a reporting and disclosure requirement to the Public Service Commission’s duties under the Michigan Public Utilities Act. Its practical effect would be to create a standardized public-facing resource for estimating the total lifecycle cost of renewable energy projects, which could be used by policymakers, utilities, customers, and other stakeholders when evaluating renewable energy proposals and comparing costs.

Impact

SB 369 would amend 1939 PA 3 by adding a new section requiring the Public Service Commission to develop and maintain an online cost-calculation tool for renewable energy. This would expand the commission’s administrative responsibilities and create a new transparency requirement related to renewable energy cost accounting, but it would not itself alter utility ratemaking standards, mandate procurement, or change the legal definition of renewable energy. The bill would affect the PSC, utilities, renewable energy developers, and ratepayers by making lifecycle cost information publicly available in a standardized format.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee testimony or votes in the provided materials, the available evidence suggests a neutral-to-supportive policy approach centered on transparency and consumer information. The bill appears designed to inform public debate about renewable energy costs rather than to advance a direct regulatory restriction or subsidy. Because there are no transcripts or vote records included, there is no documented opposition or formal support reflected in the provided context.

Contention

The main potential point of contention is the bill’s focus on the full lifecycle costs of renewable energy, including decommissioning and remediation, which could be viewed by supporters as necessary transparency and by critics as a way to emphasize costs without equally accounting for benefits such as emissions reductions or long-term energy savings. Another possible issue is the methodology the PSC would use to calculate costs, since assumptions about operating life, disposal methods, and site restoration could materially affect the results. No specific stakeholders or objections are identified in the provided committee or voting record.