The Detroit News is reporting on the hearings that the Michigan Public Service Commission is holding into the recent storm-related power outages. From the first hearing on Monday:

The customers of DTE and Consumers Energy testified before Public Service Commissioner Monica Martinez in Lansing that the power outage was especially tough on isolated senior citizens. The PSC has launched an investigation into utility response in the wake of the storms, which left 720,000 customers without power for varying lengths of time.

“My parents were six days without power. They’re 88 years old,” said Patricia Barone, speaking for Alice and Jerry Barone of Bloomfield Hills. “They lost $350 worth of food in the freezer and they couldn’t eat. This creates a great deal of suffering for elderly people.”

Do you want to give your two cents? There will be hearings June 30 in Pontiac and Clinton Township. See the Detroit News story for details.