Keweenaw Report Your Source for Local News and Sports
February 23, 2015 – The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) today
canceled a prehearing conference scheduled for Feb. 25 involving its
previous order (http://efile.mpsc.state.mi.
directing Wisconsin Electric Power Company to “show cause” why it should not
be prohibited from suspending operation of or retiring the Presque Isle
Power Plant (PIPP) in Marquette. The Commission also vacated the expedited
schedule it established.
In today’s order, the MPSC noted that the utility’s two largest customers –
Tilden Mining Company L.C. and Empire Iron Mining Partnership – signed an
agreement on Feb. 18 that has apparently mooted the need for any further
proceedings in this docket at this time.
The agreement, made public on Feb. 18, reportedly requires the mines to
remain as full service customers of Wisconsin Electric until the sale of its
assets to Upper Peninsula Power Company. In return, the utility reportedly
has agreed to rescind its plans to retire the PIPP and has agreed to forgo
collection of system support resource (SSR) payments effective Feb. 1.
The MPSC is an agency within the Department of Licensing and Regulatory
Affairs.
