The Research Council was requested to review the major issues in public utility regulation in Michigan: the role, legal status, and authority of the public service commission; elements of the management structure of the commission; and some of the major problems facing the commission. The report includes suggestions to strengthen the policies, programs, and structure of the commission. The report does not attempt to evaluate the substantive decisions of the commission in rate cases or other proceedings. The emphasis of this effort was that of a broad public policy perspective on public utility regulation, rather than that of a detailed study of commission decisions and administrative operations.