---
title: "Ann Arbor Voters Narrowly Reject Proposal E Public Power Plan"
url: https://www.hereannarbor.com/2026/11/04/ann-arbor-voters-reject-proposal-e-public-power/
date: 2026-11-04T06:39:17-05:00
modified: 2026-11-04T08:08:34-05:00
author: "Mateo G. Bello"
categories: ["Politics"]
site: "HERE Ann Arbor"
attribution: "HERE Ann Arbor"
---

# Ann Arbor Voters Narrowly Reject Proposal E Public Power Plan

*Source: [HERE Ann Arbor](https://www.hereannarbor.com/2026/11/04/ann-arbor-voters-reject-proposal-e-public-power/) — November 4, 2026 by Mateo G. Bello*

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Ann Arbor will keep DTE Energy as its electric company after voters turned down Proposal E, the citizen-led charter amendment that would have started the city down the road to its own public power utility.

Unofficial Washtenaw County figures show 51.83% of voters opposed the measure and 48.17% backed it. The amendment would have required the city to set up a municipal electric utility run by a nine-member board, with five members elected in 2028 and four appointed by City Council.

The grassroots group Ann Arbor for Public Power had pushed for a vote since 2020, arguing a city utility could reach 100% renewable power faster and deliver steadier, cheaper service. The group opposing the measure received $1.8 million from DTE Energy.

City Council voted 10-1 last month to have City Attorney Atleen Kaur challenge the measure in court, and outgoing Mayor Christopher Taylor opposed it. Mayor-elect Yousef Rabhi supported it. A 2023 city study put the cost of buying DTE local distribution assets, not counting substations, at $281 million to $1.15 billion.