Human Services Committee OKs continuation of DTE and Consumers Energy efficiency programs through 2027

The Muskegon County Human Services Committee on a voice vote authorized staff to continue administering DTE and Consumers Energy energy‑efficiency programs through Dec. 31, 2027, using contractors listed in a Sept. 5, 2025, letter to the county administrator. The motion (HS 0.510‑53) was moved by Commissioner Cyr and supported by Commissioner Page and passed by voice vote.

The programs provide no‑cost energy upgrades for qualifying customers, including furnaces, water heaters, refrigerators and weatherization work, and are funded and administered through DTE and Consumers Energy partnerships, county staff said. "We just help people that are DTE consumers or Consumers Energy consumers, with putting in high energy, high efficient products," said Mike Brown, who described program activity and administration in Muskegon County.

Brown told commissioners the county does not bear program installation costs and receives administrative fees that vary by product, citing examples "built in for a furnace" and "for a water heater" and a per‑square‑foot fee for weatherization. He estimated the program was "probably $300,000 to the good," after paying wages and expenses, while noting that figure as his estimate.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about the administrative fee structure before the committee voted. The committee did not record a roll‑call tally; the motion passed on a voice vote.

The committee also noted the program's contractor list in the packet and referenced a Sept. 5 letter to the county administrator that detailed the approved contractors. The authorization directs county staff to continue program administration through the stated date.