LANSING, May 22.  The Michigan Public Service Commission today
ordered Consumers Energy Company to refund $439,934, plus approximately
$2.3 million of unrefunded balances in its refund liability account, to its natural
gas customers through a credit on their June 2000 natural gas bills.  The
Commission ordered the refund because Consumers Energy received a refund
from Panhandle Eastern Pipeline Company based on a Kansas ad valorem
property tax refund.

     Consumers Energy's residential customers using 200 cubic feet (Ccf) of
natural gas in January 2000 will see a one-time refund of about $0.86 on their
June 2000 natural gas bills.  Individual customer refunds will vary, based on
actual natural gas use during January 2000.  Commercial and industrial sales
customers will also see a refund, based on their natural gas use during the same
period.

     MPSC staff, Attorney General Jennifer A. Granholm, and Consumers
Energy participated in the proceedings.

     Consumers Energy, headquartered in Jackson, provides natural gas
service to nearly 1.5 million customers in Michigan.

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

Case No. U-12227
May 22, 2000
(MPSC orders pipeline refund for Consumers Energy natural gas customers)