Pay My Way^TM Program Terms and Conditions

New Customers: New customers applying for Pay My Way will need to complete an application at ConsumersEnergy.com/paymyway. A minimum payment of $30.00 must be made on the Pay My Way account with 5 calendar days from when the customer is enrolled in the program.

Existing Customers: Existing customers may convert their account into the Pay My Way program. When a customer’s account is converted into the Pay My Way program, the existing deposit (if applicable) is applied toward any outstanding balance, and any remaining credit (if applicable) will be applied to the Pay My Way account. Any outstanding balance from the traditional account will be transferred to the prepaid account and set up on our debt recovery plan. Through the debt recovery plan, 20% of each payment will be applied to the deferred balance.

Senior Citizen Customers: Senior citizen customers, as defined in the Michigan Public Service Commission’s Consumer Standards and Billing Practices for Electric and Natural Gas Service, are eligible to participate in the Pay My Way program. The protections in Rule 460.132 and Rule 460.138 for eligible senior citizen customers continue to apply in the Pay My Way program, including that service will not be shutoff for an eligible senior citizen customer during the heating season.

Critical Care Customers: Critical care customers, as defined in the Michigan Public Service Commission’s Consumer Standards and Billing Practices for Electric and Natural Gas Service, are not eligible to participate in the Pay My Way program.

Security Deposit and Late Fees: The normal security deposit for a residential account is not required and no late fees are applied to prepaid accounts.

Payments: The minimum payment amount is $10. Payments can be made 24 hours a day via credit card or debit card online at ConsumersEnergy.com/login or call 844-309-5513. Cash and check payments can also be made at any Consumers Energy Direct Payment Office location during business hours. Payments made online through other channels are also accepted; however, these payments will not be posted immediately (it can take up to 10 days for Consumers Energy to receive these payments).

Billing: Pay My Way accounts will not receive a monthly bill. Daily account history will be available at ConsumersEnergy.com/login. This website will allow the customer to modify their notification settings. The customer is solely responsible for managing and updating the notification settings on their Pay My Way account.

Bill Viewing and Bill Calculation: All Pay My Way accounts will be calculated daily with daily adjustments of all charges and fees deducted from the prepaid credit balance. The account will be reconciled once per month.

Pay My Way accounts mutually exclusive for payment arrangements, credit extensions, life support status, or for participation in any other programs or service related to payments or billing.

Disconnection and Minimum Payments for Reconnection:  A prepaid account will be subject to immediate disconnection any time the account reaches a zero balance. Service that has been disconnected due to a credit deficit will remain disconnected until any outstanding balance and a minimum credit balance of 10 times average daily use is paid. Amount to pay can be found at ConsumersEnergy.com/login.

Returned Checks: If a returned check or a chargeback is received on an account, the amount of the return will be charged back to that account immediately. If this causes the credit on the account to be exhausted, service will be subject to immediate disconnection. Consumers Energy has the right to decline payments by check if the account reflects two or more return items in the last 12 months.

If an account is disconnected for nonpayment for 10 consecutive days, the account will be considered inactive and will be permanently disconnected. If permanent disconnection occurs, the customer will have to contact Consumers Energy.

Termination of Service: Service terminated at the request of the customer will receive a refund of any remaining credit on the account after all final bill amounts have been calculated. All refund checks will be sent to the mailing address on file.

Conversion to a Post Pay account: A customer may elect to convert their account to a post pay account at any time. Consumers Energy will require full payment of the deposit and balance owed, if applicable, as a condition of continued service.

Prepaid customers will comply with and be bound by Consumers Energy’s Terms and Conditions of Retail Electric Service. All charges and fees, such as returned check fees, meter tampering fees, etc. apply to prepaid accounts. Service will not be connected if electrical code is not met.

In compliance with the Terms and Conditions of mobile carrier, the customer must opt in to receive text messages. An opt-in code will be sent via text message to all customers electing to receive notifications through text message. Standard carrier rates and fees may apply.

Communication / Balance Alerts: The customer is responsible for managing and updating the notification methods on their Pay My Way account. Consumers Energy will communicate to customers when the credit balance on file is approaching zero ($0.00). Customers will be notified by default at 10 days, 5 days, 3 days, 2 days, 1 day and 0 day energy use remaining. Notifications will be sent based on the customers’ preference of text message, email, and/or phone call.

Customers enrolled in the Pay My Way Program have the following rights, among others, under the Michigan Public Service Commission’s Consumer Standards and Billing Practices for Electric and Natural Gas Service:

1. To file a complaint prior to the scheduled date of shut off disputing the amount for your utility service.

2. To request a hearing before a hearing officer if a complaint cannot be otherwise resolved. The portion of the bill not in dispute must be paid to the utility within ten (10) days after the hearing is requested.

3. To represent himself or herself, be represented by counsel, or be assisted by another person of his or her choice during the complaint process.

4. Service will not be shut off pending the resolution of a complaint filed with the utility in accordance with the Michigan Public Service Commission’s Consumer Standards and Billing Practices for Electric and Natural Gas Service.

5. To have shut off of service postponed if you are actively seeking assistance from a government funded agency, if a certified medical emergency exists, or if you or your spouse are on active military duty. A social service agency should be contacted if you believe you might be eligible for emergency assistance.

6. Residential customers should contract a social services agency immediately if the customer believes he or she might be eligible for an energy assistance program or other emergency economic assistance and should inform the utility of any efforts being made to obtain payment assistance.

7. Shut off of service will be postponed if a certified medical emergency exists at the customer’s residence and the customer informs and provides documentation to the utility of that medical emergency.

8. Residential customers may be eligible to participate in a shutoff protection program but will be required to disenroll from the Pay My Way program to participate.