Electricity
Consumers Energy has many ways to make electricity—coal and natural gas, even renewables like wind, water, and solar. We’ve been powering Michigan for decades.
There’s More Than One Way to Kilowatt
There are lots of ways to make electricity. Natural gas. Wind. Water. Solar. Even garbage. We’ve been using these fuels and other at Consumers Energy to power Michigan homes and businesses.
We Think About Electricity All the Time. Shocking, Right?
Businesses plug into our grid too. They need electricity to build cars and trucks, to farm, care for patients, and run schools. We all rely on electricity a lot. Most people don’t think about it much though—until you don’t have it. (Like when your phone needs charging and you can’t find an outlet.)
Electric Generation – From Fuel Source to Family Room
1 Megawatt (MW) Can Power 1,000 Homes
1: We Start With an Energy Source
Electricity starts with an energy source like solar, wind, biofuels or natural gas. These energy sources are used to make electricity at a generating plant.
2: From the Generator to the Substation
High voltage lines carry power from the generating plant to a transmission substation. This stop is still at the generating plan.
3: High Wire Act
The electricity is then sent off to long-distance transmission lines, called a grid. These are huge steel towers that can be seen from far away.
4. Good to Grid
The electricity doesn’t get to your house directly from the transmission grid. First, it’s moved to a step down transformer and then to a distribution grid, which carries a lower voltage of electricity.
5: Plug In
The distribution wires that carry electricity to your house go through a transformer that reduces the voltage even more so it’s safe for your home.
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