Brett French, UPPCO vice president of Business Development and Communications

MARQUETTE — In an age when many residents share concerns about the environment and how our consumption of energy impacts it, the Michigan Public Service Commission is taking steps to ensure electric utilities are offering customers green options.

The Michigan Public Service Commission issued deadlines for filings and comments regarding utility companies’ proposals for voluntary green pricing proposals.

VPG programs, according to MPSC documents, allow customers to voluntarily purchase from their utility “up to 100% of electricity from renewable sources,” the cost of the programs are billed to participating customers.

All Michigan utilities are required to offer VGP programs to customers. The MPSC is responsible for reviewing and approving green pricing programs for those utilities it regulates. Municipal utilities, cooperative utilities or alternative electric suppliers are not regulated by the MPSC.

The commission will accept comments regarding Upper Peninsula Power Company’s VPG case until Feb. 6.

UPPCO has proposed the continuation of its Green Program in which customers can purchase up to four blocks of green energy in blocks of 100-kilowatt-hours for $2.40 each, according to the company’s website. The blocks purchased will be added to a customer’s monthly bill, the web page states.

Brett French, UPPCO’s vice president of development and communications, said while the company may broaden VPG offerings in the future, there are no concrete plans as yet.

“We have had internal discussions to try to determine how we will expand those voluntary green pricing options for our customers,” French said. “Unfortunately, it is too premature to tell what those will be.”

The MPSC deadline for the Upper Michigan Energy Resource Corporation will be Feb. 20.

In its filing with the MPSC, UMERC officials estimate that approximately 200 customers are enrolled in the company’s existing voluntary green pricing program.

The document states that UMERC is “in the process of obtaining a new supply of renewable energy” for it’s VPG programs.

“We expect to have the new renewable supply for 2019, 2020 and 2021 finalized by the end of the year,” the Nov. 25, 2019 MPSC filing states. “UMERC will review these costs and the existing voluntary green pricing premiums and file the updated voluntary green pricing programs for Commission review.”

Under its current “Energy for Tomorrow” program as listed in its 2019 rate brochure, UMERC allows customers to pay per kWh for electricity in increments of 25%, 50% or 100% of monthly usage.

We Energies senior communications specialist-media relations Amy Jahns said green pricing options afford utility customers broader control.

“Participating customers have told us that they want to use more renewable energy. The programs offer customers a choice about how their electricity is produced. VPGs also are cost-effective means for customers to meet their sustainability goals,” Jahns said in a recent email. “UMERC is meeting its renewable requirements using other energy. All of the energy that you purchase through the VPGs is above and beyond the amount required by regulations. Because the incremental costs of participating in these VGP programs are paid by participating customers there is not an impact to others that do not elect to participate.”

More information can be obtained about voluntary green pricing programs at www.michigan.gov/mpsc, or by visiting the company websites at www.uppco.com or www.uppermichiganenergy.com respectively.

Lisa Bowers can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 242. Her email address is lbowers@miningjournal.net.