Consumers Energy Restores Power to More Than 50,000 Customers After Tuesday Storms
Consumers Energy Restores Power to More Than 50,000 Customers After Tuesday Storms
Jackson, Mich. Wednesday, September 08, 2021
Crews from four states working nonstop to bring the lights back on for Michigan homes and businesses
Consumers Energy crews have restored power to more than 52,000 Michigan homes and businesses impacted by hail and high winds that blew through the area on Tuesday, knocking out power for about 80,000 customers.
More than 1,100 Consumers Energy coworkers and contractors, along with crews from Ohio, Indiana and Alabama are involved in the around-the-clock effort to restore power and help customers.
As of 4 p.m. 28,000 customers were without power. Consumers Energy anticipates power will be restored to majority of those homes and businesses by end of day Thursday. Areas where damage is most severe will be restored by Friday evening.
Storms moved through Michigan, starting in the Traverse City area Tuesday morning and continued through nightfall, causing significant damage especially in the mid and southwest parts of the state.
“We know how frustrating it is to be without power, so we’re working tirelessly and safely to bring the lights back on as quickly possible,” said Guy Packard, Consumers Energy’s vice president for electric operations. “We appreciate the patience of our friends and neighbors as we make our final push to restore service for everyone.”
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.
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Media Contact: Brian Wheeler, 517-740-1545.