Consumers Energy Finishing Restoration Work as it Monitors Another Winter Storm

Lineworkers continue restoration work.  Consumers Energy photo.

(February 27, 2023 11:45 AM) Consumers Energy is keeping crews on its system as lineworkers work to finish restoration efforts in Michigan’s southern counties and the company monitors another potential ice storm in northern and mid-Michigan. Crews will be deployed if the ice and freezing rain lead to outages in those areas. 

In Jackson County, as of 11:45 AM, 13,506 out of 78,337 customers affected (17.3%)

“The work to restore power in our southern communities after this devastating ice storm is in the home stretch, and we are so grateful for our customers’ continued patience and understanding,” said Amanda Wagenschutz, one of Consumers Energy’s officers in charge for the event. “We are also keeping our crews and those from other states on our system as we monitor potential hazardous winter weather in northern communities today.” 

Over 600 Consumers Energy crews, contractors and lineworkers from outside Michigan are restoring power to homes and businesses affected by last week’s powerful ice storm. 

Consumers Energy customers can get updates on the continuing restoration work by signing 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. People who don’t sign up for alerts can report and check on the status of outages at www.ConsumersEnergy.com/OutageCenter. 

Wagenschutz also encouraged people to be careful while crews continue to work today. In particular, the public should 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.

Consumers Energy urges the public to keep this important information in mind:

• Watch for downed wires. People should always stay at least 25 feet away from a downed wire, keep children and pets away, and report the issue by calling 9-1-1 and Consumers Energy at 800-477-5050.
• Call 2-1-1, a free statewide service, if you are looking for help connecting to resources that offer assistance in their community, including warming centers.
• 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, clean-up 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.