JACKSON, MI, May 18, 2026 – Consumers Energy is mobilizing crews across Michigan following severe weather that swept through the state Monday afternoon, bringing strong winds, heavy rainfall, and widespread power outages.

Approximately 200 Consumers Energy crews are working overnight to restore service to 50,000 customers, with an additional 140 crews on standby as another round of severe thunderstorms is expected to move across the state Tuesday afternoon into the evening. Crews are assessing damage, including downed power lines, broken poles, and other impacts to electrical infrastructure.

“Our top priority is the safety of our customers, communities, and crews,” said Norm Kapala, vice president of grid operations. “Our teams are working around the clock to restore power as quickly and safely as possible while continuing to assess and repair damage across our system.”

Customers are encouraged to practice extreme caution when driving and be on alert for downed power lines, fallen tree limbs, and flooding. Customers can monitor the status of outages at www.ConsumersEnergy.com/OutageCenter.

Customers can also sign up for outage alerts and restoration times sent to a phone, email, or text message, Text ‘REG’ to 232273 or visit  www.ConsumersEnergy.com/alerts. 

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  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.

Members of the media are reminded to call 1-800-557-4625 to reach a Consumers Energy Media Relations representative 24/7.