Continues Restoration Efforts
JACKSON, Mich., April 2025 – Consumers Energy last night was finishing restoring power to most southern Michigan customers affected by this week’s storms, while continuing an around-the-clock effort to repair – and in some areas, rebuild – the electric grid in hard-hit northern counties.
Some 900 crews continued working and were ready to continue into the night. Helped by better weather, Consumers Energy returned power as of 9 p.m. to nearly 95% of 375,000 customers who have lost power since last weekend.
“To anyone who lacks power, please know that we are with you 100% tonight,” said Chris Fultz, one of Consumers Energy’s Officers in Charge of restoration. “Repairing the damage these storms have delivered across the state has been undeniably challenging, but we are determined to finish the work safely and quickly for our friends and neighbors.”
Consumers Energy worked today with local first responders and law enforcement in Crawford, Otsego, Oscoda and Alcona counties to provide water. Consumers Energy will continue to work with Northern Michigan leaders and emergency officials to serve communities Friday.
Fultz encouraged people to continue to track the progress of restoration work on the company’s online outage map.
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.
- Residents can also utilize the Michigan 211 website for the most up to date information on warming shelters in their area.
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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