# High power bills push city voters for public utilities

> Voters in Ann Arbor and other cities weigh city-owned utilities to combat rising electricity costs.
- Title: High power bills push city voters for public utilities
- Summary: Voters in Ann Arbor and other cities weigh city-owned utilities to combat rising electricity costs. Ann Arbor voters will decide this November whether to…
- Keywords: ann arbor, public utility, electricity rates, dte energy, municipal utility, city owned utilities, power grid, news, politics, world, High, power
- Source: Straight Arrow — https://san.com/cc/high-power-bills-are-pushing-voters-toward-city-owned-utilities-this-november
- Published: 2026-10-12T21:42:56+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: ann arbor, public utility, electricity rates, dte energy, municipal utility, city owned utilities, power grid, news, politics, world
## Ann Arbor voters decide on public utility
This November, voters in Ann Arbor, Michigan, will decide whether to start forming a publicly owned electric utility.
## Rising electricity costs drive change
The average residential electricity rate hit 18.3 cents per kilowatt-hour in July, up more than 30% over the past decade.
## Public utilities save money
EIA data shows public utilities charge 2.5 cents less per kilowatt-hour than investor-owned providers, saving $188 annually.
## Ann Arbor's grid reliability concerns
Ann Arbor residents cite frequent power outages lasting more than a week as a key reason for pursuing a municipal alternative.

> We have power outages all the time, sometimes they last more than a week
## DTE Energy's role in Ann Arbor
The poles and wires connecting Ann Arbor to the broader grid are owned by DTE Energy, a Detroit-based private company.
## San Francisco's public utility push
San Francisco officials offered PG&E $3.4 billion to buy power lines and substations, but PG&E rejected the offer.
## Texas governor's utility plan
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott wants to introduce competition in Austin and San Antonio to lower electricity prices.
## Kitsap County's utility vote
Residents of Kitsap County, Washington, will vote on whether to form a publicly owned utility in 2028.
## Public Power St. Pete initiative
Public Power St. Pete is gathering signatures for a 2028 ballot measure to establish a city-owned utility.
## Public utility benefits
Public utilities operate as nonprofits, charging lower rates while investor-owned utilities return value to shareholders.
## Key takeaway

Ann Arbor voters will decide this November whether to form a publicly owned electric utility to address high power bills and grid reliability issues.