Michigan regulators have approved a $100 million dollar electric rate hike for Consumers Energy, authorizing the state's second-largest utility to bill the average residential customer about $9 dollar more per month starting in January.

The increase for residents is nearly 12 percent after factoring in other allowed adjustments.

The agency says the Jackson-based utility sought the higher rates to fund upgrades to its distribution system and to meet its clean-energy goals by retiring coal-fired plants.