Political Quotes

“DTE Energy has a monopoly in my district. It is the primary source of utilities for gas and electricity for my residents. This is why it is critical and important for me to introduce the Make DTE Pay Act. It would substantially increase monetary penalties on utilities like DTE Energy when they seek customer rate increases within two preceding or following Clean Air Act violations. Mr. Speaker, you might ask: Why? It is because DTE was hit with more than $100 million in penalties for violating the Clean Air Act by a Federal judge. Within the same week, they got a $240 million increase in rates, and DTE Energy customers, our residents, already know we are paying some of the highest rates in the country for some of the least reliable services, all while DTE shareholders and executives get richer. Now we know DTE has, again, been hit by this violation. They turned around and put it on the consumers. Corporate polluters like DTE treat breaking environmental laws as just the cost of doing business. It is insulting to every single family in my district that is being poisoned by the air they breathe because of this company, and they turn around and jack up our utility bills year after year. That is why it is critical and important that we introduce the Make DTE Pay Act. I encourage my colleagues to understand the importance of this.”