in Communities Hit Hardest by Powerful Storm

JACKSON, Mich., June 26, 2024 – Consumers Energy has over 550 crews from Michigan and five other states continuing their work Wednesday to restore power to homes and businesses affected by Tuesday’s powerful thunderstorm. As of 4 p.m., power was returned to over 75 percent of all impacted customers.

“The customers who remain without power are in our most challenging areas due to the severity of the storm damage, but we are determined to restore their service safely and as quickly as possible,” said Chris Laird, one of Consumers Energy’s Officers in Charge for restoration. “Our crews are doing all they can to help the communities we care for in the hardest-hit areas of the state. We thank customers for their patience.”

Laird said Consumers Energy has moved more crews to some of the most seriously affected communities, such as Muskegon County, as they finish restoring power elsewhere. Lineworkers are prepared to work 16-hour shifts at a time, contributing to Consumers Energy’s around-the-clock restoration effort that also includes another 140 forestry crews.

Most customers can expect to have their power restored by midday Thursday, with a goal to complete work in the hardest-hit locations by the end of the day Thursday.

Customers can continue to check the status of outages at www.ConsumersEnergy.com/OutageCenter. They can also 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.

As a thank you to customers in the regions hit hardest by the storm, Consumers Energy is providing free food and treats to customers at the following times and locations:

Free Hot Dog Meal and Ice Cream Bars

·       When: 6-8 p.m. today, Wednesday, June 26

·       Where: Messiah Baptist Church of Grand Rapids, 513 Henry Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 (Back of church parking lot)

Free Single Scoop Ice Cream or Snow Cone

·       When: 4 to 6 p.m., Thursday, June 27

·       Where: Short & Sweet Ice Cream & More, 2008 Greenwood Rd, Prescott, MI 48756

As always, Consumers Energy urges the public to keep important safety tips in mind:

·       Be alert to crews working along roadsides. Drivers should slow down or stop and wait for oncoming traffic to clear so they can go safely past.

·       Stay at least 25 feet away from downed power lines, and to report unguarded downed lines by calling 9-1-1 and Consumers Energy at 800-477-5050. Consumers Energy reminds people that falsely calling in downed lines actually slows down the restoration process for everyone.

·       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.

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 providing reliable, clean and affordable energy to our customers 24/7.

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