OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2010 CALLS TO ACTION UPDATE

OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2010 CALLS TO ACTION UPDATE

Detroiters! Show up in force tomorrow morning by 9:45 a.m. Nov. 3rd at the City Council meeting,Coleman A. Young Municipal Bldg.to oppose a $150 million contract award to DTE; while workers have been laid off from Detroit's Public LIghting Department. Get a comment card when you arrive on the 13th floor and voice your opposition. See http://voiceofdetroit.net/ for background information. Prepared comments will also be available for those who want them.

A RELATED MESSAGE: Monday, November 1, 2010 11:29:55 AM
Subject: DTE wants to raise rates by $253 million for env. costs


Detroit Edison wants to raise rates by $253 million
Utility requests to raise costs by $253M, cite revenue loss, strain of environmental rules BY Melissa Burden / The Detroit News

Detroit Edison's 2.1 million customers in southeastern Michigan could soon be paying more for electricity.

The Detroit-based utility on Friday filed a request with the Michigan Public Service Commission to increase electric rates by $253 million, citing increased costs to meet environmental requirements to reduce emissions from coal-fired plants; loss of revenue due to declines in commercial and industrial electricity demand; and rising costs for future retiree health care.
The filing came on the same day Detroit Edison's parent company, DTE Energy Co., posted third-quarter earnings of $163 million, up from $151 million in the same quarter a year ago.

Detroit Edison wants to boost the average residential customer's bill by about 6 percent, or less than $5 a month. Commercial and industrial customers would see varying increases.

"It takes the average residential bill from about $85 to $90 a month," Steve Kurmas, Detroit Edison's president and chief operating officer said of customers who use about 600 kilowatt hours per month.

The commission has a year to issue a final decision on the request, said Judy Palnau, a Public Service Commission spokeswoman.

But expect to see bills go up around May 1, because "about six months into (the commission's review), we're allowed to implement an interim rate relief," Kurmas said, adding that later can be adjusted up or down.

Kurmas said the company has worked hard to reduce its costs to help offset a rate increase for customers. The filing said that the company expects it will need $443 million in additional revenue, but is asking the state to approve $253 million more.

Electricity, he said, "remains an extremely good value."

"We absolutely recognize that every dollar comes difficult and has a burden on their personal family budget."

Residential customers last saw a bill increase — on average about $3 a month — around July 2009 through interim rate relief, Kurmas said.

In January, the PSC approved a $217.39 million rate increase for Detroit Edison, 42 percent less than the $378 million the company sought in its January 2009 filing. It also required the company to refund about $62.6 million to customers.

From The Detroit News: http://www.detnews.com/article/20101030/BIZ/10300337/1001/Detroit-Edison-wants-to-raise-rates-by-$253-million#ixzz13tw57fyi

Tiffany Hartung
Sierra Club, Michigan Beyond Coal Campaign Office: (231) 747-7489

tiffany.hartung@sierraclub.org www.sierraclub.org/coal/mi

Facebook Group: Clean Energy Now club Follow us on Twitter, @BeyondCoalMI

1) Hood Research Recall Meeting – October 25th 6:00 pm
Location: 600 W. Lafayette Detroit, MI

2) DTE/ MPSC – Consumer Forum- October 27th, 4:00 p.m.
Location: Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church on West Grand Blvd and Grand River. (DTE damage claim forms will be available includes fire and other)

3) We the People of Detroit Election Phone Bank for Virg Bernaro Campaign-
October 30, 2010 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon Volunteers needed
Contact: wethepeopledetroit@gmail.com for details.

4) November 2nd: Election Day and Tom Barrow's Michigan Court of Appeals Hearing at 11:00 a.m. regarding Dave Bing’s illegal possession of the office of Mayor.
Location: State of Michigan-Cadillac Place Building on 14th floor (former GM Building on West Grand Blvd between 2nd Ave and Cass, New Center area, Detroit)

5) Charter Convention #1 – November 6th & 7th at Schulze Elementary School 10700 Santa Maria, Detroit, MI 48221 N.W. Detroit. On November 6th: Saturday 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. the theme is: STRUCTURE, RELATIONSHIPS AND ALLOCATION OF POWER BETWEEN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. On November 7th: Sunday 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. the theme is: SERVICE DELIVERY AND ENFORCEMENT / GENERAL FUND DEPARTMENTS

6) Jobs, Training and Contracts meeting for Detroiters. Nov. 19th at 3:00 p.m. City Council Chambers 13th floor Coleman A. Young Bldg corner of Woodward and Jefferson.

7) Charter Convention #2- November 20th & 21st Brenda Scott Middle School, 18440 Hoover, Detroit, MI 48205 November 20th, Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. the theme is: SERVICE DELIVERY AND ENFORCEMENT / ENTERPRISE DEPARTMENTS . On November 21st, Sunday 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. the theme is: TAX POLICY, GROWTH, ECONOMIC AND NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT

8) Charter Convention #3- December 4th and 5th, Cass Technical High School, 2501 Second Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201 December 4th, Saturday, 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. the theme is: EXECUTIVE, LEGISLATIVE BRANCH and OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENTATIONS. On December 5th, Sunday, 1:00 p.m.- 5:00 p.m.: OPEN WORKING SESSIONS


For more info contact: wethepeopledetroit@gmail.com
Thank you!