MICHIGAN — Consumers Energy has announced the launch of its Public Safety Power Shutoff policy.
The policy allows Consumers, following guidance from the Michigan Public Service Commission, to shut off power in certain areas at the risk of damaging winds, fire, and other threats to public safety, like flooding.
Consumers would utilize a multi-level approach to decide whether or not to shut off the power.
They said it is a last resort decision, not one they make hastily.
“This is not something that will be routine,” Media Relations Specialist Trisha Bloembergen said. “It’s something that we consider when extreme conditions such as heat and high winds are occurring and that may cause our…equipment to instigate a wildfire. So, the focus is really on safety, and it’s a multi-level process to consider before we initiate operations of power shutoff.”
Consumers projects they have only had to implement the policy for two days over the past five years.
“At this point, we have not initiated this policy, but I think it’s important to reflect that it’s something that is not routine, but it is something that we would initiate on a last case last resort efforts,” Bloembergen said.
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Consumers will send out notifications in advance, monitor weather in real time, update the public regularly, support the community throughout and after the shutoff, and work to restore power after the event.