LANSING, March 20.  The Michigan Public Service Commission
today granted expansion of Nordic Energy, L.L.C.'s certificate of public
convenience and necessity to allow the company to provide unbundled
generation service to all retail electric customers in Monitor Township, Bay
County and to Wyoming's water treatment plant in Park Township, Ottawa
County.    Nordic Electric is prohibited from constructing, owning, or
operating transmission or distribution facilities to deliver energy in these
municipalities, according to today's order.       

     Nordic Electric, an independent power company, is currently
providing energy supplies to several Michigan industrial customers under
the Direct Access Program.   Under the program, customers are permitted
to buy power from an alternative provider other than their local utility
company.   Nordic Electric secures the power from another energy supplier
and Consumers Energy delivers the power across its transmission and
distribution system to the customer.  The Consumers Energy Direct Access
Program originated from a Commission approved agreement between
MPSC staff and Consumers Energy on a number of rate making and
competitive issues.

      "Granting the expansion of Nordic Energy's certificate continues the
Commission's support for retail competition for electricity in Michigan,"
said Chairman John Strand.  "Monitor Township and Wyoming's water
treatment plant in Park Township will join several other Michigan electric
customers benefiting from  customer choice for electric service."

     The MPSC is an agency within the Department of Consumer and
Industry Services.

Case No. U-11601
March 20, 1998
(Nordic Electric's certificate expansion)