JACKSON, MI, – Consumers Energy is again preparing crews to be ready to restore power ahead of a second strong storm that will end 2025 with powerful winds and the potential for power outages. The energy provider is alerting the public to be ready for winds above 50 mph that will start late tonight and continue through Monday afternoon.
Consumers Energy will mobilize nearly 500 crews to start restoring power as of 10 p.m. when gusts start in Southern Michigan and then continue statewide.
“We have been watching the forecast closely and want our friends and neighbors to know our crews will be ready to respond,” said Norm Kapala, one of Consumers Energy’s Officers in Charge for restoration. “We understand it can be frustrating to see more storms for the second time in a week, and we are committed to restoring power to our customers as quickly and safely as we can.”
Crews from Consumers Energy and Michigan contractors are preparing to work after restoring power to 90,000 customers affected by Friday’s ice storm. The new storm should deliver high winds and varying amounts of snow across the state. Consumers Energy urges people to be careful when driving and watch for crews working along roads.
Customers can continue to check the status of outages at www.ConsumersEnergy.com/OutageCenter. They can also sign up for outage alerts and restoration times sent to a phone, email or text message, Text ‘REG’ to 232273 or visit www.ConsumersEnergy.com/alerts.
Consumers Energy urges the public to keep important safety tips in mind:
- Be alert to crews working along roadsides. Drivers should slow down or stop and wait for oncoming traffic to clear so they can go safely past.
- Stay at least 25 feet away from downed power lines and report unguarded downed lines by calling 9-1-1 and Consumers Energy at 800-477-5050. Consumers Energy reminds people that falsely calling in downed lines actually slows down the restoration process for everyone.
- 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.