Dear Friends,

To better serve the people of the 30th Senate District, I am offering this “Week in Review.” I hope you will find it informative about what is happening in Lansing.

I encourage you to contact me with any state issue. You may call 517-373-6920 or email [email protected].  Also, please check out my Facebook page. Let me know if I can assist you in any way or if you have an idea to help move our state forward.

Working for you,
Roger Victory
State Senator

Last week, I introduced legislation to help reduce electric costs and attract investments by giving industrial electric customers an opportunity to select alternative power suppliers.

Michigan currently has a 10% cap on who can participate in electric choice.

Senate Bill 695 would open up electric choice to new and existing industrial power customers with a peak electric load of 2,000 kilowatts or more and allow them to purchase electricity from an alternative supplier regardless of the state’s cap. The state's top two regulated utilities, DTE Energy and Consumers Energy, would have to bid against competitors if they wanted to keep supplying the electricity to manufacturers seeking to participate.

This bill was sparked by Ford Motor Company’s recent decision to build a new electric vehicle battery center in Tennessee rather than here in Michigan. Ford CEO Jim Farley said Tennessee’s lower electricity rates were a big factor in the decision.

This is an important tool in our toolbox that can help drive innovation and investment and ensure Michigan isn’t left behind. We’ve seen the consequences of maintaining the status quo.

I believe the Ford announcement will help serve as a catalyst to move it forward, and the future could look bright for Michigan if we get this right.

The Senate Appropriations Committee last week launched hearings around a $2.5 billion water infrastructure spending bill that is focused on investing our remaining federal recovery funds on repairing dams, replacing water treatment infrastructure and more.

Much of the figures are still under discussion, but Senate Bill 565 would currently invest $600 million into a grant program for replacing lead pipes across the state, $700 million for upgrading local drinking water and wastewater facilities and $85 million for filtered water stations inside of schools.

The Michigan Water Environment Association said the last time an investment similar to this plan was made was after the federal Clean Water Act was enacted in 1972.

Wayne Jernberg, chair-elect for the Michigan section of the American Water Works Association, said communities across the state struggle as the expenses connected to their respective water and wastewater utilities escalate and that this grant funding could be critical for a “community like Grand Rapids that has nearly 24,000 lead service lines with an estimated replacement cost of over $140 million.”

Click here to watch last week’s hearing on the water infrastructure bill.

Starting yesterday, telephone customers in Michigan’s 616 area code as well as those in the 810, 906 and 989 area codes have to include an area code with every local call - known as 10-digit dialing.

This requirement includes both landline and mobile phones users. Calls that don't include an area code will not be completed. Instead, a recording may inform you that your call cannot be completed as dialed. If you receive this recording, hang up and try again using the local area code with the 7-digit telephone number.

The change is needed for 988 to dial directly to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The 616 area code is one of area codes that includes the 988 prefix (the first three numbers in a 7-digit telephone number).

Important safety and security equipment, such as medical alert devices and alarm and security systems must be programmed to use 10-digit dialing. Contact your medical alert or security provider if you are not sure whether your equipment needs to be reprogrammed to accommodate the change.

This Sunday is Halloween. I hope everyone has a safe and fun evening however you celebrate. Drivers, please stay alert this weekend and watch for trick-or-treaters.

Below is a list of resources available to you if you need any type of assistance. Additionally, you can contact my office at any time for more information.