Consumers Energy Returns Power to Over 80% of Customers After Windstorm, Plans to Finish Restoring Almost All Today

Jackson, Mich. Saturday, April 13, 2024

Consumers Energy has restored power to over 80% of some 85,000 homes and businesses that were affected by Friday’s windstorm across Michigan. Almost all remaining customers should get power back today.

“Our crews made outstanding progress overnight, and we now will have 300 Consumers Energy and contractor crews working through the day to return power to every last customer,” said Greg Salisbury, Consumers Energy’s officer in charge for this storm. “This storm did significant damage across a wide path, but we are focused on following our plan to help Michigan bounce back from this storm quickly.”

Customers can check the status of outages at www.ConsumersEnergy.com/OutageCenter. They can 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.

Salisbury thanked customers for their patience as Consumers Energy finishes work for the last 20% of those who were affected. He reminded the public to still be careful today as work continues to restore power to almost everyone today.

“We appreciate the patience of everyone who lost power or who is cleaning up from this storm’s damage today. For everyone’s safety, we also encourage people to slow down if they’re driving and see crews working along local roads,” Salisbury said.

“We’re pleased by the pace of the restoration work, but know our job is not done.”

Consumers Energy urges the public to keep important safety tips in mind:

• Stay at least 25 feet away from downed power lines, and to report unguarded downed lines by calling 9-1-1 and Consumers Energy at 800-477-5050. Consumers Energy reminds people that falsely calling in downed lines actually slows down the restoration process for everyone.

• Never use a generator in an attached garage, basement, enclosed patio or near any air intakes. Doing so could cause a generator to produce hazardous levels of carbon monoxide, an odorless, colorless and deadly gas. Read more guidance on safe generator use here.
• Consumers Energy will trim or remove trees interfering with electric restoration activities. Once safe to do so, cleanup of debris from tree trimming or removal during a storm emergency is the responsibility of individual property owners.
• In some cases, the mast that holds the electric service wires to a 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 is Michigan’s largest energy provider, 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, or brian.wheeler@cmsenergy.com