The Michigan Municipal Electric Association, the trade association representing municipal utilities in Michigan, notes that their 40 member cities meet approximately 8% of the total electricity demand in the state.[114]
Communities that provide electricity to their residents often own their own generation services or will partner with a larger utility. They typically sell electricity to their residents in the same way they offer water and sewage services.[115] Municipal electric utilities are publicly owned and regulated by the communities they serve. The Michigan Public Service Commission does not have regulatory authority over their services and/or rates.[116]
The municipal electric utilities in Michigan that serve more than 10,000 customers are,
Bay City: Bay City Electric Light and Power provides electric power to over 21,000 customers in Bay City, Bangor Township, Frankenlust, Hampton, Monitor, and Portsmouth.[117] BCELP obtains its electric power through a combination of wholesale purchases, partial ownership of the Belle River and Campbell coal plants, and peaking power provided by dual fuel diesel generators at the Water Street and Henry Street plants.[118]
Grand Haven: Grand Haven Board of Light & Power serves about 14,000 customers in Grand Haven, Ferrysburg, and sections of nearby townships. The majority of their power is generated from the J.B. Sims Generating Station on Harbor Island accompanied by a diesel engine. They purchase 10-15% of their energy from the MPPA.[119]
Holland: The Holland Board of Public Works owns three generation facilities, as well as the partially idled coal and natural gas plant, the James De Young Power Plant. Its operating plants include the natural gas-fueled Holland Energy Park, fuel-oil and natural gas-fueled 48th Street Station and the oil-powered 6th Street Station. It also own shares in the J.H. Campbell Complex and Belle River plants that are run by Consumers Energy and DTE and, when needed, will obtain power from the open market. HBPW serves 27,000 customers in Holland, Filmore, Laketown and Park townships.[120]
Lansing: Lansing Board of Water and Light owns and operates the natural gas-fueled REO Town Cogeneration Plant and the coal-powered Eckert and Erickson Stations. It receives a portion of the generated electricity from the coal-fueled Belle River Plant as a member of the MPPA, and it also purchases and sells energy from the Midcontinent Independent System Operator open energy market. LBWL is the state’s largest municipal electric utility, providing energy to 100,000 customers.[121]
Marquette: The Marquette Board of Light and Power serves almost 17,000 consumers in Marquette, Negaunee, Ishpeming, West Branch, Richmond, Chocolay, Skandia, Sands and Forsyth. They generate power from a coal-fired generator, two hydro plants, and the Marquette Energy Center, dual-fueled by natural gas and fuel oil.[122]
Traverse City: Traverse City Light & Power serves over 12,000 customers in Traverse City and parts of East bay, Elmwood, Garfield, Paradise, and Peninsula Townships. The utility provides electricity and services to its customers through a mix of generation sources, including wholesale purchases of coal, natural gas, and renewable sources.[123]
Wyandotte: Wyandotte Municipal Services owns and operates a mix of coal, natural gas, and petroleum liquids generation capacity with which it provides electricity to its over 12,000 customers.[124]
The remaining municipal electric utilities in Michigan serve fewer than 10,000 customers.