Frequently Asked Questions
We have tried to organize the frequently asked questions into areas. Many times, however, they may not fall into any specific category or in more than one. If you have any questions that are not addressed here, please contact us.
Meter Questions
Where should I install the meter on my new house?
Your meter must be located outdoors and readily accessible to our meter readers year round. This is typically within 6 feet of the front corner of the garage, or driveway side of house. When you pay your initial deposit, ask to review your plans with the Meter Dept.; we would be happy to help you come up with the best meter location for your situation.
If the meter is placed in a location deemed by the Meter Dept. to be potentially inaccessible, you will be asked to move it to an acceptable location and your power will NOT be connected until it has been moved.
What part of the service equipment is my responsibility and what is the BLP’s?
The best source of information would be the general guidelines in the service connection policy. View and/or download it here.
How do I read my meter?
The Board of Light and Power has created a short guide to reading your own meter. You can download this document in a PDF format.
Customer Service Questions
What is required to connect service?
The BLP may require both a service deposit and a connection charge that must be paid before service can be connected. The connection charge for all customers within the Marquette City limits is $35.00 and is $40.00 for those customers outside the city limits.
A service deposit is not required for most residential customers if you have maintained a good credit history with the MBLP.
Commercial customers should contact the BLP office at (906) 228-0311 to determine the amount of their deposit. It will be determined based on the consumption of an account of similar service in the same rate class. If a comparable account cannot be determined, the MBLP's distribution department will make an estimate of two consecutive months of consumption based on pertinent data to be furnished by the customer. Some of the questions you will need to answer include the type of business, square footage, type of heating, type of cooling, and any specialized electrical equipment that will be used.
In both cases, you will need to provide your social security number and a driver's license number or other picture identification. If you cannot come into the offices to fill out the form, you must download the service connection form and send it, along with payment to our main offices at 2200 Wright Street, Marquette, Michigan, 49855.
You may download copies of both our residential deposit policy and commercial deposit policy.
How much electricity do my appliances use?
That can vary by a number of factors. You can view our handy appliance consumption chart in a PDF format here.