LANSING – After weeks of reviewing the state’s 2008 energy reform laws, the chair of the Senate Energy and Technology Committee said he isn’t convinced the 10 percent cap on customer choice should be augmented.

Sen. Mike Nofs (R-Battle Creek) said after hearing testimony from about 60 people, there are some minor changes with the law the Legislature could pursue, but returning to an open choice system isn’t one of them.

Members from the Customer Choice Coalition testified before the committee urging a change in the law as some businesses have seen increased rates from DTE Energy or Consumers Energy since the law was changed three years ago.

Dow testified that expanding choice could allow it to use more renewable energy to run its facilities.

But other business, such as Ford Motor Company, advocated against a change to choice. A Ford official said their rates in Michigan are lower than Illinois and comparable with Ohio and change in the law could mean higher costs at their Michigan plants.

Nofs didn’t completely close the door on the choice debate, noting he still must sit down with committee members to get their take on the testimony, but he personally doesn’t see a need to mess with that part of the law.

He did, however, say the Legislature should look into how refunds are handled. Under the current system, refunds are awarded over a class and don’t necessarily reflect individual usages. Mr. Nofs said refunds should be handled more accurately.

Nofs also said he didn’t anticipate any changes arising from the renewable portfolio standards portion of the law.

“There was no real push to expand it, which surprised me,” he said of the RPS.

On the energy efficiency side, he said how small cooperatives are graded would likely be changed as he noted there’s only so much energy they can save from their customer base.

Overall though, Nofs said the law seems to be working as it was intended to and a review would likely be warranted again in 2014-15 when the 10 percent RPS is supposed to be achieved.

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