Consumers Energy Making Progress to Restore Power for Customers Following Severe Storms

JACKSON, Mich., April 1, 2025 – With power restored to most customers, more than 800 crews are working today across the Lower Peninsula to turn the lights back on for Michiganders impacted by last weekend’s storms.

“We won’t stop until the job is finished,” said Norm Kapala, one of Consumers Energy’s Officers in Charge for restoration. “The damage created by this storm was significant and our lineworkers are giving their all to help those impacted communities by safely restoring their power as quickly as possible. We are deeply grateful for our customers’ patience.”

Consumers Energy has restored power to over 65% of about 260,000 customers affected by the weekend weather. Work will continue in the hardest hit areas, particularly in ice-covered Northern Michigan and the storm-swept southern central region of the state.

Consumers Energy today is warning Michigan residents to be aware and prepare for severe weather through most of the day Wednesday that likely will deliver high winds, hail and the potential for more ice.

The company is monitoring the weather forecast intensely and preparing for another wave of storms by continuing to add more lineworkers and resources as around-the-clock efforts continue.

Watch: Consumers Energy leaders talk about power restoration and the coming storm

“Mother Nature has dealt Michigan a big blow, but our crews are up the challenge,” Kapala said.

Consumers Energy will offer a free meal to customers today, beginning at 4 p.m. at the E-Free Church Gaylord Campus (1649 M-32 in Gaylord).

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

• Be alert to crews working along the roads. Drivers should slow down or stop and wait for oncoming traffic to clear so they can go safely past workers on roadsides.
• 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.
• 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 delivering reliable, clean, and affordable energy to our customers 24/7. 

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