2013 House Bill 5013

Allow higher consumer utility rates to subsidize Hemlock Semiconductor

Introduced in the House

Sept. 25, 2013

Introduced by Rep. Jim Stamas (R-98)

To prohibit the Public Service Commission from altering the special "economic development" rates granted by Consumers Energy to the Hemlock Semiconductor subsidiary of Dow Corning, which was exempted from a law banning cross-subsidization between residential and commercial/industrial customers. This ban (called "deskewing") was part of a 2008 bill that ended the ability of most customers to buy power from a generator other than Detroit Edison or Consumers Power, mostly restoring their monopoly status. Hemlock was one of the recipients of <a href=" http://www.michiganvotes.org/SearchLegislation.aspx?CategoryID=0&Keywords=hemlock&StartMonth=1&StartYear=2001&EndMonth=12&EndYear=2012&Results=50&Laws=True&op=Search">extensive state subsidies</a> granted by recent legislatures to electric car battery, photovoltaic solar cell, and other “renewable” energy companies.

Referred to the Committee on Energy and Technology