Consumers Energy Expecting Significant Restoration Progress Today Following Powerful Storms
JACKSON, Mich., Sept. 8, 2021 – Consumers Energy crews have restored power to over 34,000 Michigan homes and businesses affected by Tuesday storms and the energy provider anticipates turning lights back on for most customers by Thursday.
Crews from Ohio and Alabama are in Michigan to help restore power after storms packing hail and 60 mph winds knocked out power for about 80,000 customers.
“We’re confident we can continue safely reconnecting customers with today’s good weather,” said Guy Packard, Consumers Energy’s vice president for electric operations. “We know the communities we serve are counting on us, and we’re working tirelessly to turn the lights back on for homes and businesses across the state.”
More than 1,100 Consumers Energy coworkers and contractors are involved in the around-the-clock effort to restore power and help customers. As of 11 a.m., roughly 45,000 customers were without power.
Customers can check the status of specific outages by visiting www.ConsumersEnergy.com/OutageCenter, and also sign up to get outage alerts and restoration times sent to a phone, email or text message. Text ‘REG’ to 232273 or visit www.ConsumersEnergy.com/alerts.
Packard urged people to stay at least 25 feet away from downed power lines, keep children or pets away, and report the issue by calling 9-1-1 and Consumers Energy at 800-477-5050. Consumers Energy asks the public to keep a safe distance from crews.
Consumers Energy also asks the public to keep important safety tips and information in mind:
- Be alert to crews working along roads. Drivers should slow down or stop and wait for oncoming traffic to clear so they safely can go past workers on roadsides.
- Call 2-1-1 if you are looking for help connecting to resources that offer assistance in your community. 2-1-1 is a free statewide service.
- A portable generator should be placed at least 25 feet away from any doors, windows or fresh air intakes. Never operate a generator inside your home, garage, basement or enclosed area. Proper ventilation is critical.
- Consumers Energy will trim or remove trees interfering with electric restoration activities. Once safe to do so, clean-up of debris from tree trimming or removal during a storm emergency is the responsibility of individual property owners.
- In some cases, the mast which holds the electric service wires to a customer’s home or business may have been damaged or torn away. Crews will reconnect the wires to a home, but only a licensed electrician can repair or replace a mast or a cable.
Consumers Energy, Michigan’s largest energy provider, is the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS), providing natural gas and/or electricity to 6.8 million of the state’s 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.