Chamber support touted as 'breakthrough' on energy bills

LANSING (AP) — An influential business group’s decision to support energy legislation is being called a “breakthrough” in an attempt to update Michigan’s energy laws.

The Michigan Chamber of Commerce says new versions of the bills would guarantee a competitive bidding process for electricity generation and preserve competition.

The Republican-led Senate is expected to approve the plan shortly after the Nov. 8 election. Chamber President and CEO Rich Studley says the breakthrough means there is “no good reason” that the GOP-controlled House should not send the legislation to Gov. Rick Snyder by year’s end.

He says the organization would oppose the bills it if believed they killed the “customer choice” program that gives competitors to DTE Electric and Consumers Energy up to 10 percent of power sales in their regions.