Comments submitted by businesses to Michigan regulators supporting DTE Energy's $456.4 million rate hike request appear to have been written by the utility itself, according to identifying data attached to the documents.

On Sept. 30, the Michigan Public Service Commission posted 16 public comments from businesses that work with DTE, calling on the commission to approve the proposed electric rate increase. However, data in the PDF files identify a company spokesperson as the author of at least four of these comments, and many of them share textual similarities that suggest a shared template was used to craft the letters.

"DTE appears to be ghostwriting comments that create the illusion of support for its plan to raise rates for customers," said Karlee Weinmann, research and communications manager for the Energy and Policy Institutes, an industry watchdog group. "This looks like DTE trying to find more palatable messengers to promote its agenda."

MPSC spokesperson Matt Helms said the MPSC offers the opportunity for comment to give the public a chance to express their point of view, and assumes that comments filed reflect the sentiments of the commenters.