Record heat and Michigan’s strengthening economy drove customer electric demand Tuesday to its highest level ever for Consumers Energy.  Demand from the utility’s 1.8 million customers hit a peak of 9,086 megawatts between 3:00 PM and 4:00 PM Tuesday.  That surpasses Consumers Energy’s previous all-time record of 8,930 megawatts set on July 21, 2011.  Consumers CEO John Russell said weather was a key factor in setting Tuesday’s all time peak record, but they also continue to see signs of Michigan’s economic recovery as manufacturers add shifts and limit their previously normal practice of summer shut-downs.  Consumers Energy, the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy provides natural gas and electricity to 6.8 million of Michigan’s 10 million residents in all 68 lower peninsula counties.