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Jackson area outage map as of 10:25 PM. (August 12, 2021 10:27 PM) Consumers Energy crews plus contractors from Michigan and seven other states are nearing the halfway mark late Thursday in their all-hands-on-deck push to restore power to over 371,000 homes and businesses affected by this week’s severe weather. Over 550 three- and four-person crews remain at work around the clock and will work through the night heading into Friday. Their goal: Restore power to most homes and businesses by late Saturday night and finish almost all of their work by the end of the weekend. As of 9:45 p.m. Thursday, about 187,000 customers remained without power – the result of a storm system over three days that brought down trees, damaged equipment and downed 4,500 wires. “This has been a busy week for our lineworkers and those who have joined us from as far away as New York and Missouri. We’re encouraged to see their progress and plan to keep up the pace to get the lights back on,” said Guy Packard, Consumers Energy’s vice president for electric operations. “We are grateful for the patience of our friends and neighbors, and want them to know we won’t stop…

(UPDATED August 12, 2021 5:52 PM) Consumers Energy crews and contractors along with crews from seven states have restored power to more than 130,000 customers in the wake of three waves of this week’s severe storm system in Michigan that brought down trees, damaged poles, downed 4,500 wires and knocked out service to more than 369,000 electric customers since Tuesday night. “These three days of storm activity ranks among the top 10 storms in our company’s 135-year history,” said Guy Packard, Consumers Energy’s vice president for electric operations. “I could not be more impressed by the patience shown by our customers affected by these damaging waves of storms, and I want them to know we will not stop working extended shifts day and night until our restoration is complete and the lights are back on for every one of our customers.” A majority of 230,000 customers without electric service as of 4 p.m. are expected to be restored by late Saturday night with storm restoration efforts continuing through the weekend. Additional storm activity could extend restoration times. As of 5:50 PM, 22,200 Jackson County customers are without power.  Consumers Energy spokesman Brian Wheeler told JTV News restoration will be continuing…