Consumers Energy Returns Power for Over 100,000 Customers, Continues Restoration Work Today

Jackson, Mich. Saturday, May 17, 2025

Improved weather conditions expected to support Saturday progress

Consumers Energy has restored power to over 100,000 customers affected by the high winds, tornadoes thunderstorms and hail that swept through Michigan overnight May 16. Though more severe weather caused additional outages, crews will continue steady restoration progress Saturday, thanks in part to favorable conditions.

“We won’t stop until the job is finished,” said Sri Maddipati, one of Consumers Energy’s Officers in Charge for restoration. “After a long night of restoration through windy conditions, we have clear weather for restoration efforts today.”

Consumers Energy has mobilized about 660 crews to help customers after a powerful line of storms caused outages from Kalamazoo and west Michigan counties to Lansing and Saginaw. That number includes contract crews from eight states, as far as Louisiana, working alongside Consumers Energy lineworkers to help tackle the hardest-hit areas such as Battle Creek, Kalamazoo and Muskegon.

“The damage created by this storm was significant and our lineworkers are giving their all to help those impacted communities by safely restoring their power as quickly as possible,” Maddipati said. “We are deeply grateful for our customers’ patience.”

Maddipati encourages people to watch for downed wires and crews working along often busy roads, and to stay at least 25 feet away from downed power lines.

Anyone who sees an unguarded downed power line should first call 9-1-1, then Consumers Energy at 800-477-5050.

Customers can check ConsumersEnergy.com/outagemap for updates on restoration times. They can learn more through the Consumers Energy app.

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

• 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. Consumers Energy knows job No. 1 is to keep the lights on for customers. We are committed to delivering reliable, clean, and affordable energy to our customers 24/7.

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Media Contact: Trisha Bloembergen, 517-614-2689 or trisha.bloembergen@cmsenergy.com