BillTrack50 logo
Free Signup Login
Bill

Bill > HB4361

MI HB4361

MI HB4361
Public utilities: other; guidelines for trimming trees and branches around power lines; modify. Amends sec. 10p of 1939 PA 3 (MCL 460.10p).

summary

Introduced
04/22/2025
In Committee
02/04/2026
Crossed Over
01/28/2026
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

103rd Legislature

Bill Summary

A bill to amend 1939 PA 3, entitled"An act to provide for the regulation and control of public and certain private utilities and other services affected with a public interest within this state; to provide for alternative energy suppliers and certain providers of electric vehicle charging services; to provide for licensing; to include municipally owned utilities and other providers of energy under certain provisions of this act; to create a public service commission and to prescribe and define its powers and duties; to abolish the Michigan public utilities commission and to confer the powers and duties vested by law on the public service commission; to provide for the powers and duties of certain state governmental officers and entities; to provide for the continuance, transfer, and completion of certain matters and proceedings; to abolish automatic adjustment clauses; to prohibit certain rate increases without notice and hearing; to qualify residential energy conservation programs permitted under state law for certain federal exemption; to create a fund; to encourage the utilization of resource recovery facilities; to prohibit certain acts and practices of providers of energy; to allow for the securitization of stranded costs; to reduce rates; to provide for appeals; to provide appropriations; to declare the effect and purpose of this act; to prescribe remedies and penalties; and to repeal acts and parts of acts,"by amending section 10p (MCL 460.10p), as amended by 2016 PA 341.

AI Summary

This bill modifies existing law regarding public utilities, specifically focusing on tree trimming around power lines and employee transition programs. It mandates that electric utilities establish programs to assist employees affected by restructuring, offering skills upgrades, training, voluntary separation, and job placement services, with associated costs subject to commission approval. The bill also requires that in the event of a sale or transfer of utility assets, the acquiring entity must hire a sufficient number of existing nonsupervisory employees, prioritize them over external hires, and provide a dispute resolution mechanism, maintaining current wage rates and benefits for at least 30 months unless otherwise mutually agreed upon. Furthermore, it directs the Public Service Commission (PSC), which regulates utilities, to establish service quality and reliability standards for electric transmission, generation, and distribution systems, including provisions for upgrading underperforming circuits, and requires utilities to report annually on their compliance and performance. The bill also allows electric utilities to trim trees from the ground to the sky and maintain vegetation up to 15 feet from power lines to improve reliability, and the PSC will set benchmarks, gather data from industrial customers, and implement financial incentives or penalties to ensure utilities meet these standards.

Committee Categories

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Government Affairs

Sponsors (8)

Last Action

Referred To Committee On Energy And Environment (on 02/04/2026)

bill text

bill summary

Loading...

bill summary

Loading...
Loading...