Media Contacts: Maureen Saxton, Energy Choice Now, 517.899.5513 PR-Edge@comcast.

net; For detailed conference statements and presentations: www.MIelectricgardening.com

Legislators, Business Leaders, National Experts Come Together to Discuss Need for Full and Open Electricity Competition in Michigan
New Polling Results Released at Event Reveal that 72% of Voters in Michigan Favor a New Law to Allow Customers Ability to Choose Electric Service from Suppliers Lansing, Michigan (October 15, 2012) Energy Choice Now (ECN), the Association of Businesses Advocating Tariff Equity (ABATE), the Customer Choice Coalition (CCC) and Energy Michigan today hosted a series of discussions featuring state legislators, business leaders and national experts focused on the need for full and open electricity competition in Michigan and the many benefits it would provide. At the event, Michigans Electricity Market: Time for Gardening, new polling results were also released, revealing that the vast majority of Michigan residents -- 72% of Michigan voters -- would support a law allowing customers the ability to choose their electric service from suppliers. In addition, the same poll found that 76% of voters agreed that competition among energy companies is a good way to control costs. The questions were asked as part of a statewide poll taken by Lansing-based pollster EPICMRA with a sample of 600 survey responses and an error rate of 4.0%. Polling dates were Oct. 4 6, 2012. The poll found tremendous support for increasing electric competition among all demographic groups by majorities of at least 62 percent, and many groups supported it by higher percentages than the overall statewide results. As todays polling results reveal, voters support electricity choice, said Wayne Kuipers, Executive Director of Energy Choice Now. Voters across Michigan, along with the more than 10,000 customers who are currently languishing on a waiting list to gain access to competitive electricity, recognize that competition is essential for innovation and economic growth. It is time

to eliminate the cap on competition and allow our state to experience the economic growth and thousands of new jobs that lower electric costs would enable. The event covered a range of topics, including the negative effects that 2008 energy legislation capping competition at 10% has had on consumers and businesses. In fact, Michiganders currently suffer from the highest electricity rates in the Midwest rates that are higher than the national average. Kuipers noted the detrimental effect of the 10% cap is that it effectively allows government to pick winners and losers: businesses fortunate enough to have chosen a competitive supplier before the 10% cap was quickly reached have enjoyed over $350 million in electricity cost savings over the past three years. Speakers also discussed how competitive energy markets have worked for Michigan in the past, and the fact that more Michigan customers than ever are demanding choice. Michigan retailers and their customers understand competition and the opportunities and benefits it brings, each and every day, said James Hallan, president and CEO of the Michigan Retailers Association. Thats why here at Michigan Retailers Association, we are glad to see these discussions take place and are hopeful they can help lawmakers realize that competition represents a strong path forward for Michigans electricity policy and our states economy. In addition to Hallan, other key speakers included: Dr. Jonathan Lesser, President, Continental Economics, Inc., and Robert Strong, Clark Hill PLC Attorneys at Law, who discussed Michigans 2008 energy legislation and the ways in which it served to raise rates for consumers and businesses. Bill Massey, Counsel, COMPETE Coalition and former FERC Commissioner and Dr. Philip OConnor, President, PROActive Strategies, former Chair of the Illinois Commerce Commission and a leading national advocate of competitive market solutions for regulated businesses, who discussed how competition is working across the country and the many customer benefits it provides. Diane Katz, Research Fellow, Regulatory Policy, The Heritage Foundation, who reviewed the ways in which competition worked in Michigan between 2000 and 2008, when all Michigan consumers were able to choose their own electric supplier. Paul Bedich, Energy Procurement Manager, Chrysler, and Vice-Chairman of ABATE (Association of Businesses Advocating Tariff Equity), who provided analysis from a Michigan business perspective. Jennifer Steiner-Burner, energy specialist with Marathon Petroleum Corporation, who provided analysis from the perspective of doing business in Michigan. Gerhard Goss, Director of Administration & Controlling, J. Rettenmaier USA LP, who provided analysis from the perspective of doing business in Michigan.

Retail competition is working in other states. Michigans two largest utilities, Consumers and Detroit Edison (DTE Energy), which currently enjoy a monopoly on the electricity market, sell energy to neighboring competitive states at significantly lower costs. While Consumers and

Detroit Edisons rates have soared, wholesale generation rates in MISO, the competitive wholesale electric market in which these two utilities operate, have decreased an average of 45%.

About Energy Choice Now Energy Choice Now is a coalition of businesses, consumers, suppliers, trade associations, and other interested stakeholders that are committed to passing legislation that will raise the current cap on Michigan`s electricity suppliers, increase competition, and lower energy costs. www.ECNmichigan.com About Customer Choice Coalition The Customer Choice Coalition a group of businesses, associations and power suppliers who support free enterprise and competition. You can learn more at www.customerchoicecoalition.com. About ABATE ABATE exists to represent the industrial viewpoint on energy and utility issues before all appropriate governmental bodies and other pertinent organizations which affect energy pricing, reliability and terms and conditions of service in Michigan. www.abate-energy.org/

About Energy Michigan Energy Michigan is the trade association for the cogeneration, independent power and waste to energy industries in Michigan. Energy Michigan aids these industries by legislative and regulatory activities; intervening in Michigan Public Service Commission cases on retail wheeling, competitive bidding, standby rates and other similar issues; participating in legislation; participating in certain selected national cases and rule makings; and other activities approved by the Board of Trustees. www.energymichigan.org/

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