The state-granted public utilities in Michigan are a disaster. The legally-enforced formulas the big monopolies—DTE and Consumer’s Energy—use to justify rate increases to the Michigan Public Service Commission do not prioritize maintenance for lines like tree trimming. The result is constant outages during even relatively minor storms.
The regulatory framework is the problem. It should be abolished. A free market in energy in Michigan would be massively cheaper and more efficient than what we have right now. The enshittification of American life is a choice and one we can resist.
What is Lippincott Talk?
Josiah Lippincott covers politics, war, and culture in a serious and hopeful way. The goal: to stop the deceit.