LANSING, MI-- The federal government has agreed to end System Support Resources payments made by Upper Peninsula electric customers since 2012.
The Michigan Agency for Energy says the fees keep uneconomic plants that owners wish to retire running to maintain electric reliability.
Agency Director Valerie Brader says U.P. residents have paid more than $25 million in SSR payments over the past four years. She says if the state is unsuccessful in pending legal challenges, customers could be required to pay an additional $48 million for past charges.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has approved ending the final SSR for White Pine Unit 1.
SSR fees are set to end on November 26. Brader says that will save U.P. residents roughly $28 million through the end of 2019.
