MARQUETTE, MI (AP)-- Federal regulators have delayed a $97 million annual rate increase for Upper Peninsula electricity customers to operate a coal-fired power plant in Marquette.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission postponed an increase set to start Monday that would cover operations at the Presque Isle Power Plant. A Friday ruling by the commission says the application for the increase needs more information.
Michigan Public Service Commission spokeswoman Judy Palnau says the letter moves the increase to March 1, but that could change. The bottom line, she says, is Michigan ratepayers "will get three additional months of protection from the huge cost increases."
Michigan U.S. Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow have requested a delay in any rate increases.
Plant spokesman Brian Manthey says the delay is "positive" as officials determine who benefits from the plant and who pays. Parent company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based We Energies, earlier sought to retire the plant.
