The audit gives a glimpse into the utility companies, which both have faced barbs from customers upset with power outages and frequent rate increases.

State officials did an audit of the equipment used by DTE Energy and Consumers Energy and found several issues that contribute to outages and high costs.

A first of its kind study examined equipment, maintenance and tree-trimming schedules for Michigan's utility giants and found some aging technology.

Michigan-based energy company DTE has requested a $456.4 million electric rate hike, even as newly-released results from a state audit show the company’s services are “worse than average” in the industry.