Latest Storm Affects Over 115,000 Michigan Homes and Businesses

JACKSON, Mich., Aug. 29, 2018 – Crews from Indiana and Tennessee will start arriving in Michigan as early as Wednesday as Consumers Energy works to restore power to over 115,000 homes and businesses affected by another round of severe weather that rolled through the state overnight.

“We are committed to working as quickly as we can to turn on the lights for our friends and neighbors who were affected by the latest storms,” said Tim Sparks, Consumers Energy’s vice president of electric grid integration. “We appreciate our customers’ patience. Our crews are in the field right now to assess damage and repair poles, wires and equipment damaged by Mother Nature.”

As of 4 a.m., 98,700 Consumers Energy customers were without power. Since Tuesday evening, 115,000 homes and businesses had lost power in all.

Consumers Energy has over 1,500 employees and contractors involved in the restoration effort. They will be joined by crews that are expected to arrive from Indiana on Wednesday, and more should arrive from Tennessee later in the week.

To view specific counties and regions and estimated restoration times customers can visit www.ConsumersEnergy.com/OutageCenter.

It is expected to be end of day Friday before all customers are restored.

“This has been a significant storm, in addition to bad weather starting over the weekend that affected an additional 110,000 customers,” Sparks said. “We appreciate the help from our colleagues from outside the state, and know that it will help us to get our job done safely and quickly.”

To view specific counties and regions most affected by electric interruptions, visit www.ConsumersEnergy.com/outagemap.

Consumers Energy urges the public to keep tips in mind:

• Stay at least 25 feet away from downed power lines and to call 911 and Consumers Energy at 800-477-5050.
• 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.
• Operating a generator may produce hazardous levels of carbon monoxide, an odorless, colorless and deadly gas. Never use a generator in an attached garage, basement or near any air intakes, and never fuel a generator when it is running.
• 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.

Consumers Energy customers can 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.

Customers can also report an outage, check the status of an outage and get useful tips what to do after a storm by visiting www.ConsumersEnergy.com/OutageCenter.

Consumers Energy, Michigan’s largest energy provider, is the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS), providing natural gas and/or electricity to 6.7 million of the state’s 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.

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11:30 AM Update Safety Comes First as Restoration Continues Following Severe Storms 

More than 215,000 Consumers Energy Customers Affected Since Sunday Evening

JACKSON, Mich., Aug. 29, 2018 – Safety of the public and crews working to restore power to more than 93,000 customers is Consumers Energy’s top concern as efforts continue after several waves of severe storms struck across Michigan this week.

With more than 1,400 downed wires and dozens of broken poles, the public needs to stay aware of their surroundings while venturing out as the weather improves today. The public is asked to report any downed wires by calling 9-1-1 and Consumers Energy at 800-477-5050.

“If you see a downed wire, assume it is energized and contact us and local public safety,” said Tim Sparks, Consumers Energy vice president of electric grid integration. “We cannot emphasize enough the importance of staying safe with the widespread damage we’re seeing across Michigan.”

Consumers Energy has over 1,500 employees and contractors involved in the restoration effort. They will be joined soon by crews coming from Indiana, Tennessee and Kentucky, as well as crews from DTE Energy in southeast Michigan.

“We know this has been a challenging week for our customers, some of who have had multiple power outages from the weather,” Sparks said. “However, safety of the public and everyone working on our electric distribution system must continue to be our top priority. We appreciate our customers’ patience during the ongoing restoration.”

Since Sunday evening, 211,000 customers have been affected by a series of three storm waves that moved through Lower Michigan as part of a unique weather pattern affecting the state. As of 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, about 93,000 Consumers Energy customers were without power. Restoration work is ongoing, but the hardest hit areas may not have power restored until late Friday.

To view specific counties and regions most affected by electric interruptions, visit www.ConsumersEnergy.com/outagemap.

Consumers Energy urges the public to keep tips in mind:

• Stay at least 25 feet away from downed power lines and to call 9-1-1 and Consumers Energy at 800-477-5050.
• 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.
• Operating a generator may produce hazardous levels of carbon monoxide, an odorless, colorless and deadly gas. Never use a generator in an attached garage, basement or near any air intakes, and never fuel a generator when it is running.
• Call 2-1-1 if you are looking for help connecting to temporary shelter or other resources that offer assistance in your community. 2-1-1 is a free statewide service.

Consumers Energy customers can 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.

Customers can also report an outage, check the status of an outage and get useful tips what to do after a storm by visiting www.ConsumersEnergy.com/OutageCenter.

Consumers Energy, Michigan’s largest energy provider, is the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS), providing natural gas and/or electricity to 6.7 million of the state’s 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.

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The next storm update news release will be at approximately 4:30 p.m. Wednesday

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Consumers Energy, Michigan’s largest energy provider, is the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS), providing natural gas and/or electricity to 6.7 million of the state’s 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.