Whitmer boasts of Michigan’s energy prices, which are high for its region

As Gov. Gretchen Whitmer claims to be keeping energy prices low, Michigan's costs are among the highest in the region, while the state's energy reliablilty ranks low nationally.

“We’re keeping energy costs low, shoring up domestic energy production, and keeping our state competitive,” Whitmer tweeted Sept. 30, discussing renewable energy standards and the reopening of the Palisades nuclear plant.

Michigan’s energy rate for all sectors of the economy was 14.48 cents per kilowatt hour in August, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. This gave Michigan the highest rate in the region. Wisconsin had the second-highest rate, 13.33 cents, while Ohio had the lowest at 11.53. The average cost of electricity in the United States in August was 13.61 cents per kilowatt-hour.

The governor has pushed for a net zero mandate to drive energy supplies away from natural gas and toward solar and wind. This mandate will cost households an additional $2,746 per year, according to Jason Hayes, director of energy and environmental policy at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy.

Attorney General Dana Nessel also seems to disagree with Whitmer’s assessment. "Michigan utility customers are already subjected to some of the nation’s highest electric rates, lowest standards of reliability and service, and utility partners who only ever ask for more and more from increasingly dissatisfied customers," Nessel tweeted in October.

Michigan came in 41st in a US News ranking of states for energy reliability, and Energy News Network has reported that the state is among the top states for power outages in recent years.

Whitmer did not respond to an email seeking comment.