From Consumers Energy:
JACKSON, Mich., Feb. 23, 2023 – With the snow and freezing rain abating, Consumers Energy continues to assess the extent of the damage from Wednesday’swinter storm and deploy crews for restoration work in the most impacted portions of the state. While some crews have begun restoration work already, the energy provider has more than 300 crews mobilized and ready to begin an all-hands-on-deck restoration process once it is safe for all crews to be deployed. More than 190,000 customers are currently impacted.
“Now that the ice and freezing rain have largely passed, we’ve got boots fully on the ground assessing damage and determining where and when to send our crews,”said Norm Kapala, one of Consumers Energy’s Officers in Charge for the event. “Our focus continues to be restoring power as quickly as possible, and we’re doing everything we can to ensure our customers and our crews stay safe during this process.”
Consumers Energy spent the days leading up to the storm fully preparing, and damage assessments so far have been largely within expectations. Though restoration work has begun, the energy provider continues to monitor weather reports, including projections of higher winds. Restoration times may vary depending on safety conditions.
Customers can report an outage and check the status of outage by visiting www.ConsumersEnergy.com/OutageCenter. They can also sign up to get outage alerts and restoration times sent to a phone, email or text message, Text ‘REG’ to 232273 or visit www.ConsumersEnergy.com/alerts.
Kapala urged people to stay at least 25 feet away from downed power lines, keep children and pets away, and report the issue by calling 9-1-1 and Consumers Energy at 800-477-5050. Consumers Energy also asks the public to keep a safe distance from crews.
“Damage assessment is ongoing, and as the weight of ice on lines and tree limbs takes its toll there is a continued potential for hazards, so customers should continue to be alert and follow safety recommendations,” said Kapala.
Consumers Energy urges the public to keep important safety tips in mind:
- 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.
- Customers should call 2-1-1 if they are looking for help connecting to resources that offer assistance in your community, including warming centers. 2-1-1 is a free statewide service.
- 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.
