JACKSON, Mich., March 28, 2025 – Consumers Energy is mobilizing over 600 crews to respond to a wave of storms this weekend that could produce icy conditions Saturday and Sunday in Northern Michigan, followed by wind gusts over 50 mph farther south on Sunday.
Consumers Energy has been closely watching a forecast that calls for ice as soon as late Friday through early Saturday. The company is alerting the public and local emergency officials, while staging crews – some from Illinois, Indiana and Ohio — to start work in waves over the coming days.
“This weather forecast has been uncertain, but we know our role is to be ready for the worst,” said Chris Laird, Consumers Energy’s vice president of electric operations. “We’re prepared for the most extreme circumstances and have a goal to restore power to all customers who are affected in 48 hours.”
Consumers Energy is moving trucks and essential materials into place to be ready in advance. Mobile storm units that move supplies closer to crews in the field are set up in Cadillac, Houghton Lake and Gaylord.
Greg Salisbury, Consumers Energy’s vice president of electric grid design, encouraged all customers to monitor the weekend weather and told those in Northern Michigan to be safe in case ice causes power outages and slows traffic on roads.
“The safety of our coworkers and communities that count on us is our top priority after storms,” Salisbury said. “We encourage people to turn to our website, our outage map and social media channels for updates if there are power outages, and we thank them for their patience as we restore power.”
Some tips for severe weather include:
- Charge all electronic devices. It’s advised to have an emergency battery or charging station available for use during an outage.
- Have an emergency kit that includes flashlights and extra batteries, water, canned food and blankets. Be prepared with enough medication, baby supplies and pet food if applicable. A battery-operated radio is also a good idea.
- Unplug sensitive electronics like TVs, computers and printers. Turn power strips off.
Consumers Energy urges the public to keep important safety tips in mind:
- 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.
- 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 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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