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Author: hannah

TCLP Provides Update on Cedar Run Property Sale

Written by hannah on . Posted in News.

Thursday, August 28, 2025

Contact: Hannah Duell, Communications Specialist, (231) 932-4544, hduell@tclp.org

Traverse City, MI — Traverse City Light & Power (TCLP) announced today that Livwell, the prospective purchaser of the Cedar Run property, has exercised its contractual right to conclude the purchase agreement. TCLP appreciates Livwell’s vision and collaborative engagement during the discussions.

With the agreement concluded, TCLP is taking the opportunity to pause and thoughtfully evaluate its next steps and potential opportunities for the property moving forward. Any decisions will be guided by the utility’s mission, operational needs, and commitment to delivering long-term value to its customers and the community.

Should TCLP decide to dispose of the property or any portion of it in the future, the process will be conducted through the public solicitation of proposals and offers, consistent with the utility’s established approach to property transactions.

“Our responsibility is to ensure that every step we take is in the best interest of our customers/ratepayers and the community we serve,” said Brandie Ekren, Executive Director of TCLP. “We are committed to making decisions that are thoughtful, transparent, and aligned with our strategic priorities.”

Background

The Cedar Run property is situated in Garfield Township and encompasses approximately 49.5 acres, including 16 acres subject to an environmentally restrictive covenant. TCLP began evaluating potential uses for the property in 2019.

In 2023, the TCLP Board decided to offer the property for sale, beginning with outreach to nonprofit organizations in early 2024. The Board’s objectives were to be mindful of its fiduciary responsibility to ratepayers, respect the community and natural environment, and encourage development consistent with TCLP’s environmental sustainability goals, including the preference for all-electric structures.

In late summer 2024, the sale opportunity was opened to private entities. In December 2024, TCLP entered into a purchase agreement with Livwell Homes for the property, sold as-is for $850,000, with a concept that included preserving public trails, natural spaces, and housing.

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About Traverse City Light & Power

Serving the community for over a century, Traverse City Light & Power (TCLP) is a municipally owned utility providing electric and telecommunication services to Traverse City and surrounding areas. Guided by its mission to deliver affordable, reliable, and sustainable services, TCLP’s vision is to be a trusted partner in powering a sustainable and connected community. The utility’s Strategic Plan focuses on six priorities: Community Enrichment, Employee Excellence, Customer Experience, Operational & Financial Excellence, Technology Transition, and Environmental Sustainability.

For more information on TCLP and its commitment to reliability, visit www.tclp.org

TCLP Invites Students to Join Public Power Coloring Contest

Written by hannah on . Posted in News.

Tuesday, August 26, 2025

Contact: Hannah Duell, Communications Specialist, (231) 932-4544, hduell@tclp.org

TRAVERSE CITY, MI. – Traverse City Light and Power (TCLP) invites you to join us in celebrating Public Power Week, October 5-11, 2025, along with more than 2,000 other community-powered, not-for-profit electric utilities that collectively provide electricity to 49 million Americans.

Through the Public Power Coloring Contest, we wish to engage students and the community in a way that will enhance interest and understanding of the role that efficient, safe, reliable, and affordable electricity plays in powering our community. The contest winner will receive a $50 Amazon gift card and may be featured in MMEA’s Currents magazine! Check it out at MIpublicpower.org.

The contest is open to participants in grades 1st– 3rd as of the Fall of 2025. The Submission must be received by Friday, September 26, 2025. Attached is the submission form and coloring page. For more information and details on Public Power Week, visit TCLP’s website, click here.

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About Traverse City Light & Power

Serving the community for over a century, Traverse City Light & Power (TCLP) is a municipally owned utility providing electric and telecommunication services to Traverse City and surrounding areas. Guided by its mission to deliver affordable, reliable, and sustainable services, TCLP’s vision is to be a trusted partner in powering a sustainable and connected community. The utility’s Strategic Plan focuses on six priorities: Community Enrichment, Employee Excellence, Customer Experience, Operational & Financial Excellence, Technology Transition, and Environmental Sustainability

For more information on TCLP and its commitment to reliability, visit www.tclp.org

State-Mandated Fee to Fund Energy Assistance Starts in September

Written by hannah on . Posted in News.

Traverse City Light & Power (TCLP) along with other electric utilities in Michigan will now fund the Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund (LIEAF), expanding eligibility and funding under the Michigan Energy Assistance Program (MEAP), for its customers as required by the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC).

The MPSC sets the LIEAF rate for all utilities annually. The monthly surcharge will be $1.25 per meter for the 2025-26 heating season, effective on your September billing statement. Funds collected will be distributed to local assistance agencies to provide income eligible members support with electric bills.

This monthly surcharge is assessed for each retail billing meter (but not charged on more than one residential meter per residential site). The monthly charge will be consistent across all member classes and appear as a separate line item on each electric bill. All LIEAF funds collected by Traverse City Light & Power are distributed to designated state agencies processing applications and distributing funds to qualified applicants.

The MPSC, along with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), will ensure that all money collected for LIEAF from a geographic area is returned to the respective areas to the extent possible. The goal of LIEAF is to promote:

  • Statewide access to the Michigan Energy Assistance Program (MEAP) for eligible low-income members.
  • Collaboration between DHHS, MPSC, energy providers and assistance program administrators to ensure that, to the extent possible, eligible low-income members in a geographic area receive funds proportional to what members in that geographic area are being assessed.
  • Education and outreach on the availability of assistance programs and funding.

Traverse City Light & Power customers who meet the eligibility requirements set by the state of Michigan and its low-income programs and partner agencies may apply for financial assistance directly with those agencies to help pay their electric bill. Assistance program information and low-income guidelines will be announced and posted on TCLP’s website at https://www.tclp.org/residential-assistance/ in September.

LIEAF was originally launched in 2013 as an optional state program. A 2024 amendment (Public Act 169) now requires all electric utilities to assess a non-bypassable surcharge to customers to fund the low-income program. Utilities have two options:

  1. Opt in to the program
  2. Opt out and instead establish and fund their own energy assistance program for residential customers that aligns with the MEAP requirements.

Historically, TCLP opted out of LIEAF due to concerns that the funds collected through the program might be directed to areas outside of our community.

For the 2025-2026 program year, however, the TCLP Board voted to opt in to the LIEAF for one year. The trial period will allow the utility to evaluate the program’s impact and determine the best path forward in future years.

TCLP Achieves High Customer Satisfaction Scores in 2025 Survey, Leveraging Insights for Future Improvements

Written by hannah on . Posted in News.

Wednesday, August 13, 2025

Contact: Hannah Duell, Communications Specialist, (231) 932-4544, hduell@tclp.org

Traverse City, MI — Traverse City Light & Power (TCLP) earned high marks in its 2025 Residential and Commercial Customer Satisfaction Study, conducted by GreatBlue Research, with results 10-15 percentage points above national public power averages. These strong scores come during a period of significant changes in TCLP’s programs, rates, and organizational focus — and reflect the trust and patience customers have shown, particularly as TCLP works to expand its fiber internet service citywide.

The survey found that 94.4% of residential and 98.1% of commercial customers are satisfied with TCLP’s services overall. Customers also overwhelmingly recognized TCLP as a trusted community partner and praised TCLP for affordable rates, reliable service, and responsive outage restoration.

Key highlights from the 2025 survey include:

  • Affordability: Around 90% of customers are satisfied with the affordability of TCLP’s electric service, ranking the utility well above state and national public power averages.
  • Reliability: Nearly three-quarters of residential and over three-fifths of commercial customers rated TCLP’s electric service reliability as “excellent.”
  • Outage Response: Over 90% of customers value TCLP’s responsiveness during outages, with significant improvement in “excellent” ratings among residential customers since 2021.
  • Customer Service: More than 80% of residential and 90% of commercial customers reported satisfaction with recent interactions, placing TCLP well above national benchmarks.
  • Innovation: Two-thirds of residential and three-quarters of commercial customers view TCLP as innovative in energy and telecom solutions. Interest in TCLP’s expanding fiber internet service remains strong, with three-fifths of customers expressing intent to switch if available citywide.

“These results affirm that our customers value the work we’re doing to keep energy clean, affordable, reliable, and forward-looking — even during a time of significant changes in our programs, rates, and organizational focus,” said Brandie Ekren, Executive Director of TCLP.  â€œMany customers have been patient as we work toward expanding TCLP Fiber citywide, and their continued trust in our ability to deliver is something I’m particularly proud of. Guided by our Strategic Plan, we will use these insights to strengthen the customer experience further and deliver on our commitments.”

Looking ahead, TCLP will conduct a deeper analysis of the full survey findings to identify specific opportunities to advance its Strategic Plan priorities — including:

  • Modernizing its customer portal and mobile tools to improve accessibility and engagement.
  • Promoting underutilized energy efficiency incentives to help customers save money and energy.
  • Expanding fiber internet access to strengthen community connectivity and economic development.

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About Traverse City Light & Power

Serving the community for over a century, Traverse City Light & Power (TCLP) is a municipally owned utility providing electric and telecommunication services to Traverse City and surrounding areas. Guided by its mission to deliver affordable, reliable, and sustainable services, TCLP’s vision is to be a trusted partner in powering a sustainable and connected community. The utility’s Strategic Plan focuses on six priorities: Community Enrichment, Employee Excellence, Customer Experience, Operational & Financial Excellence, Technology Transition, and Environmental Sustainability.

For more information on TCLP and its commitment to reliability, visit www.tclp.org

TCLP’S Public Power Coloring Contest Entry Form

Written by hannah on . Posted in Events.

Monday, August 4, 2025

Contact: Hannah Duell, Communications Specialist, (231) 932-4544, hduell@tclp.org

Join Traverse City Light & Power in celebrating Public Power Week, October 5–11! We’re proud to be part of more than 2,000 community-powered utilities serving 49 million Americans. Get involved through our Public Power Coloring Contest—a fun way to engage students and highlight the value of safe, reliable, and affordable electricity in our community.

What Are the Rules?

  1. This contest is open to 1st- 3rd grade participants for Fall of 2025.
  2. Contestants may only submit one entry.
  3. Submissions will be accepted through Friday, September 26th.
  4. The winner will be announced the week of October 6th and notified by email.

The contest winner will receive a $50 Amazon gift card & may be featured in MMEA’s Currents magazine! Check it out at MIpublicpower.org

Public Power Week Coloring Entry Form & Coloring Page

Submission must be received by Friday, September 26th, 2025. Mail or drop off this form with the completed coloring sheet between the hours of 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday–Friday, to 1131 Hastings Street, Traverse City, MI 49686 or 130 Hall Street, Traverse City, MI. 49684.

TCLP Launches Energy Coaching Pilot to Empower the Community and Enhance Home Efficiency

Written by hannah on . Posted in News.

Tuesday, June 3, 2025

Contact: Hannah Duell, Communications Specialist, (231) 932-4544, hduell@tclp.org

Traverse City, MI â€“ Traverse City Light & Power (TCLP) is excited to announce the start of a new Energy Coaching Program pilot, designed to help customers optimize their energy efficiency and reduce their monthly energy bills. Beginning this summer, TCLP will initiate a pilot phase with volunteer participants from the TCLP Board—who have all expressed interest in participating—to develop, test, and refine the program, ensuring readiness for broader community implementation.

Initially, the Energy Coaching Program will focus specifically on low-income qualified individuals and families, partnering closely with regional agencies that provide social and financial support to provide targeted assistance where it is most impactful. TCLP aims to share more detailed information this fall, including specific target goals for program utilization, with the finalized program rollout anticipated ahead of the upcoming winter season.

“This pilot represents our intentional effort to refine a supportive and accessible program in line with industry trends toward customized customer experiences,” said Brandie Ekren, TCLP’s Executive Director. “Our goal is to bridge opportunities for Time of Use rates and customer-owned generation with energy optimization. I deeply appreciate our Board Members’ enthusiasm and willingness to provide critical feedback. Together, we can ensure every TCLP customer has the tools and knowledge needed to manage their energy use confidently and efficiently.”

The TCLP Energy Coaching pilot will focus on identifying opportunities for energy savings, providing tailored recommendations, and connecting participants with resources to achieve sustainable improvements in their energy consumption and overall comfort.

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About Traverse City Light & Power

Serving the community since 1912, Traverse City Light & Power (TCLP) is a municipally owned utility serving Traverse City and its surrounding areas. Dedicated to reliability, sustainability, and innovation, TCLP provides energy and telecommunication services designed to meet the changing needs of its community. For more information on TCLP and its commitment to reliability, visit www.tclp.org

Upcoming Right Lane Closure on Munson Avenue

Written by hannah on . Posted in News.

Thursday, May 22, 2025

Contact: Stephanie Tvardek, Scheduling & Operations Coordinator, (231) 932-4565

TRAVERSE CITY, MI â€” Residents, businesses, motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians should be aware that Traverse City Light & Power (TCLP) will be performing work on Munson Avenue between East 8th Street and Airport Access Road starting on Tuesday, May 27, 2025.  This work will involve overhead line maintenance and the removal of redundant overhead primary wire along the north side of Munson Avenue which will require a temporary closure of the westbound, right lane to perform the work safely. 

The westbound, right lane of Munson Avenue will be closed between East 8th Street and Airport Access from 9:00 AM until approximately 2:00 PM each day from Tuesday, May 27, 2025, through Friday, May 30, 2025, weather permitting.  The westbound, left lane will remain open to traffic during this time.  Appropriate signage will indicate the work area and detours, and access to all homes and businesses will be maintained at all times.  If possible, please use alternative routes to avoid this area, reduce congestion, and delay, and promote worker safety.

We would like to thank you in advance for your patience and cooperation.  Please contact the TCLP Scheduling & Operations Coordinator at (231) 932-4565 if you have any questions or concerns regarding this work. 

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About Traverse City Light & Power

Serving the community since 1912, Traverse City Light & Power (TCLP) is a municipally owned utility serving Traverse City and its surrounding areas. Dedicated to reliability, sustainability, and innovation, TCLP provides energy and telecommunication services designed to meet the changing needs of its community. For more information, visit www.tclp.org.