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Regulatory Matters
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Abstract]  
Regulatory Matters
REGULATORY MATTERS
2014 Electric Rate Case Filing
DTE Electric filed a rate case with the MPSC on December 19, 2014 requesting an increase in base rates of $370 million based on a projected twelve-month period ending June 30, 2016. The requested increase in base rates is due primarily to an increase in net plant resulting from infrastructure investments, plant acquisitions, environmental compliance, and reliability improvement projects. The rate filing also included projected changes in sales, working capital, operation and maintenance expenses, return on equity, and capital structure. On July 1, 2015, DTE Electric realized an annual revenue increase of $230 million consisting of $190 million of self-implemented base rate increase related to the December 19, 2014 rate request and $40 million associated with the required elimination of a credit surcharge.
On December 11, 2015, the MPSC issued an order approving an annual revenue increase of $238 million for service rendered on or after December 17, 2015. The rate order also provided for a return on equity of 10.3% on a capital structure of 50% debt and 50% equity. On December 22, 2015, DTE Electric and other intervenors petitioned the MPSC for a rehearing and clarification of several issues related to the December 11, 2015 MPSC rate order. On February 23, 2016, the MPSC issued a final rehearing order in this case that adjusted the annual revenue increase to $243 million for service rendered on or after March 1, 2016.
2016 Electric Rate Case Filing
DTE Electric filed a rate case with the MPSC on February 1, 2016 requesting an increase in base rates of $344 million based on a projected twelve-month period ending July 31, 2017. The requested increase in base rates is due primarily to an increase in net plant resulting from infrastructure investments, environmental compliance, and reliability improvement projects. The rate filing also includes projected changes in sales, operation and maintenance expenses, and working capital. The rate filing also requests an increase in return on equity from 10.3% to 10.5% on a capital structure of 50% equity and 50% debt. DTE Electric anticipates self-implementing a rate increase in August 2016 with an MPSC order expected by February 2017.
2015 DTE Gas Rate Case Filing
DTE Gas filed a rate case with the MPSC on December 18, 2015 requesting an increase in base rates of $183 million, inclusive of $41 million of existing IRM surcharges which are expected to be converted into base rates, based on a projected twelve-month period ending October 31, 2017. The requested increase in base rates is due primarily to an increase in net plant, inclusive of IRM capital investments being recovered through approved IRM surcharge filings. The rate filing also includes projected changes in sales, operation and maintenance expenses, and working capital. The rate filing also requests an increase in return on equity from 10.5% to 10.75% on a capital structure of 52% equity and 48% debt. DTE Gas anticipates self-implementing a rate increase in November 2016 with an MPSC order expected by December 2016. Concurrent with the MPSC order in this rate case, the existing IRM surcharge being billed will be terminated. However, DTE Gas requested to implement a new IRM surcharge of approximately $9 million to become effective in January 2017.