What is an Alternative Energy Supplier?

An Alternative Energy Supplier is a company that generates electricity for you or buys electricity for your use from another generator.

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What are my supply choices?

WPS is not aware of any Alternative Energy Suppliers that are ready to serve customers in the Michigan's Upper Peninsula at this time. We will continue to contact suppliers to discuss their interest in serving customers in U.P. There is a list of Alternative Energy Suppliers registered with the state of Michigan at www.michigan.gov/mpsc.

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Why are there no Alternative Energy Suppliers in upper Michigan?

There are two key reasons why customers won't find many alternative energy supply options. One is due to the Upper Peninsula's limited market size. A new supplier would have to build a small generating plant to serve the area, and a small plant would have a hard time competing with larger plants that typically cost less to operate. Second, the transmission lines that deliver electricity to the U.P. are already at capacity. A new supplier may not have the ability to put additional electricity through the lines to serve more customers, and it would limit their ability to sell more energy outside the area (which could have justified building a larger plant).

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How do I know if an Alternative Energy Supplier is eligible to offer me service?

All Alternative Energy Suppliers must be licensed by the Michigan Public Service Commission and certified by WPS. A list of Alternative Energy Suppliers registered with the state can be found at www.michigan.gov/mpsc.

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