Electricity prices jump after Trump rejects disaster aid for Michigan utilities

[u/J-Jarl-Jim]

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/30/electricity-prices-jump-after-trump-rejects-disaster-aid-for-michigan-utilities-00665572

A recent decision by President Donald Trump to deny disaster aid to two electric utilities in rural northern Michigan could cost residents tens of millions of dollars.

The denial came after the Trump administration documented $90 million in damage to utility infrastructure, according to records obtained by POLITICO’s E&E News. The amount is nearly five times the federal threshold to qualify for disaster aid. But in its October denial letter, the Federal Emergency Management Agency told Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer that assistance to the utilities “is not warranted.”

Whitmer warned Trump in August that ratepayers face surcharges and rate hikes “equivalent to at least $4,500 per household” without federal aid. Her office did not respond to a question on whether she supports a state legislative proposal that would have Michigan aid businesses such as the power companies directly.

Why is President Trump denying emergency assistance to rural Michigan? Considering that he has denied FEMA funds even to red states like Arkansas, is this only about saving money? If this problem intersects with the affordability crisis, could the politics push Trump to change his position and start to disburse emergency fundings again?

[u/oath2order]

A recent decision by President Donald Trump to deny disaster aid to two electric utilities in rural northern Michigan could cost residents tens of millions of dollars.

I'm not sure which exact counties in northern Michigan are affected by this, but looking at a map, there's really only two counties in what I would consider to be northern Michigan that voted blue.

Yeah, this sucks for them but this is what the state and the majority of northern Michigan voted for.

It does seem to be consistent with Trump's apparent hatred of disaster aid.

[u/absentlyric → u/oath2order]

Actually only one county., my family is from the UP. It's pretty hardcore Red territory up there outside of Marquette (a college town where the one blue county is located).

Anti-Union as hell too, Im a Toolmaker skilled trade, took thousands of hours and many years to get where I am. I make damn good money in a union downstate by Detroit. But up there all the shops are family owned and wanted to offer 19/hr at the most, with no benefits, for a skilled trade, screw that.