DTE POWER OUTAGES

On 2026-07-14, Representative Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12) delivered a floor speech titled "DTE POWER OUTAGES" in the House.

DTE POWER OUTAGES

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 114 (Tuesday, July 14, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 114 (Tuesday, July 14, 2026)] [House] [Page H4464] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] {time} 1750 DTE POWER OUTAGES (Ms. TLAIB asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.) Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, shame on DTE. Shame on DTE for throwing swag bags to my residents after they went through 4 days without power. Shame on DTE for increasing our rates just a few months ago to $242 million and then 2 months later ask us for another $474.3 million increase. Shame on you for allowing 400,000 of our families to be without power. We have the most unreliable service in the region, yet we pay the highest rates. Shame on them for throwing a $42 reimbursement for spoiled groceries and spoiled medicine, especially when grocery and drug prices have increased. We can't even rely on DTE to get us through the summer storms. This was a 20-minute storm. Shame on DTE for profiting off our pain. To my residents, I say: It doesn't have to be like this. The Michigan Public Service Commission needs to stop approving DTE rate increases and instead hold DTE accountable. I introduced the Make DTE Pay Act just for that. Make them pay for polluting our water and our air while hiking up our customer rates. ____________________