LANSING, MI — Recently, there have been more collaborative business ventures between hvacr contractors and utility companies, as reported by The News in our series on contractors and utilities. However, many contractors still suspect the activities of utilities that they view as unfair competition — especially when the utilities seem to be cross-subsidizing their hvacr entities (using ratepayer funds and utility resources to support non-regulated utility service companies).
The News recently sat down with two vocal advocates of fair competition between utility companies and hvacr contractors. Lynn Briggs, executive director of the Michigan Chapter of ACCA (MIACCA) and Pete Reckinger, owner of Reckinger’s Heating and Cooling, Dearborn, MI, were founding members of the Michigan Alliance Against Unfair Utility Practices almost 20 years ago. They, along with fellow contractor Cliff McCourt, have spent a lot of time and effort tracking Consumers Power and Michigan Consolidated Gas, utility companies that provided natural gas to millions of homeowners and businesses throughout southeast Michigan.