CMS Energy's Russell: "No Interest" from Gov. Snyder in Changing Choice Cap

John Russell, president and chief executive officer of CMS Energy and subsidiary Consumers Energy, told investors yesterday that there is "no interest" from Gov. Rick Snyder in taking on energy legislation to change PA 286 which passed in 2008, which, among other things, instituted a 10% cap on electric choice volumes.

Asked by an analyst about "talk" that the Governor's Office, or the Governor himself, may ultimately take a closer look at the 2008 energy law and choice cap, and decide if anything needs to be changed, Russell said:

"I was with him yesterday and there is no interest on his part from what he shared with me and others on moving [or] taking on energy legislation. So this is for the record for everyone: the Governor has made it clear, he likes the energy legislation; the head of the Senate Energy Committee likes it; the head of the House Energy Committee likes it. This isn't to say that somebody may not introduce the bill to increase the cap or do something different, but I think the Governor's interest is more in infrastructure investment, finding a way to make investment in infrastructure which creates jobs and benefits the state on a long-term basis."