Costs continue to rise in Michigan for things like gas, groceries and utilities 

In March, a DTE rate hike increased bills by 4.6% for a typical customer. Two months later, a Consumers Energy rate hike also increased rates by 6.1%, its second electric increase in a year.

Recent rate hikes and power outages have spurred a lot of anger and frustration.

As some residents in Ann Arbor see it, one solution is to replace DTE with a city-owned utility.

A proposal on the November ballot would modify Ann Arbor’s city charter, clearing the way for a public municipal utility board.

Supporters say a city-owned utility would mean lower bills, more renewable energy, and fewer outages. Michigan already has about 20 city-owned electric utilities, including Chelsea, and Lansing.

How did we get to be here?

Getting Proposal E onto the ballot took a court battle.

In August, the Ann Arbor Responsible Energy Coalition sued the city, arguing the petitions fell short. DTE also paid for this group’s cost study. A Washtenaw County judge threw that case out. The Michigan Court of Appeals agreed last month.

Then, last week, Ann Arbor’s own city council voted 10-1 to oppose Proposal E and directed its city attorney to challenge it in court. Many residents at the council meeting were upset.

Why is Ann Arbor’s city council fighting a ballot question its own voters put there? And who gets to decide whether that vote counts?

Erica Briggs is an Ann Arbor city council member. She voted in favor of the resolution. She spoke with The Metro’s Robyn Vincent.

Hear the full conversation using the media player above.

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