Sec. 10ff.

(1) Effective January 1, 2017, the energy ombudsman is established in the Michigan agency for energy. The individual serving as energy ombudsman shall meet both of the following requirements:

(a) Understand the rate-making process and instruments to enable the energy ombudsman to provide rate information and track trends related to energy costs for businesses and individuals in this state.

(b) Possess the knowledge necessary to measure historic, ongoing, and future energy costs for businesses and individuals in this state based on the actions of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of state government.

(2) The energy ombudsman shall do all of the following:

(a) Serve as a liaison for businesses and individuals in the state by guiding energy issues, problems, and disputes from businesses and individuals to the appropriate entity, agency, or venue for resolution.

(b) Monitor the activities of the commission, the Michigan agency for energy, and other regulatory entities of this state whose decisions affect businesses and individuals with respect to energy and communicate those entities' decisions, policy changes, and developments to businesses and individuals in this state. the issues the energy ombudsman shall monitor include, but are not limited to, all of the following:

(i) Renewable sources of energy.

(ii) Energy efficiency.

(iii) Net metering.

(iv) Combined heat and power.

(v) Distributed generation.

(vi) On-bill financing.

(c) Convene regular meetings in this state to share information and developments pertaining to energy issues, policies, and administrative processes affecting businesses and individuals in this state.

(d) Monitor the implementation of the code of conduct established by the commission under section 10ee and compile and annually publish statistics on unregulated services that are provided by utilities and their affiliates.

History: Add. 2016, Act 341, Eff. Apr. 20, 2017