Dana Nessel said Friday she is seeking to slash DTE Energy’s latest natural gas rate hike request by 85%, a move she says could save Michigan customers tens of millions of dollars.

In testimony filed with the Michigan Public Service Commission, Nessel has asked regulators to scale back DTE’s proposed $237.5 million increase. The utility filed the request in November 2025, seeking an overall 10% rate hike for gas customers, including at least an 8% increase for residential users.

“DTE is raking in record profits while turning around and asking Michigan families to foot the bill for bloated, unjustified costs,” Nessel said in a statement. “As no surprise, DTE has once again fattened its rate hike request with excessive and unwarranted expenses — this time by 85%. I implore the MPSC to stand up for Michigan ratepayers, prioritize affordability for customers, and not rubber-stamp the demands of utility corporations.”

More: Some are skeptical as DTE touts reliability gains

Nessel is asking the MPSC to limit the proposed natural gas rate increase to $34.8 million, a recommendation she said is supported by testimony from four industry experts. She has said that about 85% of DTE’s proposed costs are not sufficiently justified as “improving reliability, affordability, or providing meaningful customer benefit.”

In a statement Friday, DTE Energy said the request allows it to continue investing in its system.

“We recognize that affordability remains a critical concern for the families and businesses we serve and our team works diligently to balance necessary infrastructure investments with keeping bills as low as possible,” the statement read. “DTE Gas’ natural gas rates remain below the national average while our customers’ bills are among the lowest in cold-weather states (Midwest and Northeast). We know that natural gas plays a vital role in our customers’ everyday lives — from heating homes to cooking meals. This request allows us to continue investing in the safety and reliability of our system, while keeping costs low for the customers who depend on us.”

The filing follows a $113 million rate increase approved in November 2024, which was less than half of DTE Energy’s original request.

cwilliams@detroitnews.com

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This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Nessel seeks major cut to DTE gas rate hike request