LANSING, July 16.  "Unprecedented changes are occurring in the electric
utility industry as a result of rapidly changing technologies and increased
competition," said Michigan Public Service Commission Chairman John Strand.  "The
Michigan Public Service Commission has addressed some of those issues by
establishing a retail wheeling experiment for Detroit Edison and Consumers Power
Company.  In response to the Michigan Jobs Commission proposal on electric and gas
utility reform, the Commission has also directed each regulated electric utility in
Michigan to file a plan for wheeling for new industrial and commercial electric load
by January 1, 1997.   The Commission wants to expand the scope of its information
gathering by scheduling five public hearings statewide to hear about Michigan
consumer concerns,  ideas and questions on  restructuring the electric industry."
The public hearings will be held at:

          July 30, 1996  Saginaw
          6:30 p.m.      City Hall
                         Council Chambers, Room 205
                         1315 S. Washington Avenue
                         Saginaw, Michigan


          July 31, 1996  Detroit
          1:00 p.m.      City County Building
                         Auditorium, 13th Floor
                         Two Woodward Avenue
                         Detroit, Michigan


          July 31, 1996  Southfield
          6:30 p.m.      Southfield Municipal Building
                         Council Chambers
                         26000 Evergreen Road
                         Southfield, Michigan

                              
          August 5, 1996 Grand Rapids
          1:00 p.m.      City County Building
                         City Hall, 9th Floor
                         Commission Chambers
                         300 Monroe, NW
                         Grand Rapids, Michigan

          August 6, 1996 Lansing
          1:00 p.m.      Michigan Public Service Commission
                         Hearing Room A
                         6545 Mercantile Way
                         Lansing, Michigan


     For more information or to obtain a copy of the Michigan Jobs Commission
proposal contact the Michigan Public Service Commission at 1-800-292-9555.


Case No. U-11076
(Utility Restructuring Public Hearings)
July 16, 1996