Consumers Energy Grows Workforce for Reliability Roadmap

Rhea-AI Summary

Consumers Energy announced significant workforce expansion initiatives to support its Reliability Roadmap program. The company has hired or promoted over 100 employees in the Journey Worker Electric Lines team over the past year. Currently, 289 active electric lines apprentices are enrolled in various training programs, including the School to Work initiative, Marshall Training Center, and Power 4 America.

The company's 2024 performance showed notable improvements, with customers' average outage time reduced by over 20 minutes, and power restoration achieved within 24 hours 93% of the time. The Reliability Roadmap, announced in 2023, aims to limit single outages to affecting no more than 100,000 customers and ensure power restoration within 24 hours.

As Michigan's largest energy provider, Consumers Energy serves 6.8 million residents across 68 Lower Peninsula counties with natural gas and electricity services. The company is expanding its workforce for substations projects and undergrounding electric lines through internal transitions and external hires.

Positive

• Over 100 new hires/promotions in Journey Worker Electric Lines team
• 20-minute reduction in average customer outage time in 2024
• 93% success rate in 24-hour power restoration in 2024
• 289 active apprentices in training programs

Negative

• None.

Building a Stronger Grid, Creating Good-Paying Jobs

JACKSON, Mich., March 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers Energy is fostering the next generation of workers to help keep the lights on for Michiganders by supporting workforce development and trainings. Over the past year, Consumers Energy either hired or promoted over 100 employees in the Journey Worker Electric Lines team.

"Consumers Energy's job growth and training opportunities strengthen our talent pipeline while supporting a more reliable energy future for everyone," said Craig Wright, president of Michigan State Utility Workers Union. "These investments create good-paying union jobs and equip workers with the skills needed to build and maintain a resilient grid."

Other critical investments are the apprenticeship and training programs, including the joint School to Work initiative, in-house Marshall Training Center, and Power 4 America. There are currently 289 active electric lines apprentices in the company's apprenticeship program, preparing for high-demand roles through hands-on training.

"These apprenticeship opportunities are vital to the growth of Michigan's workforce by providing career opportunities and training in key areas of our business," said Chris Laird, Consumers Energy's vice president of electric operations. "We're not just investing in our people and infrastructure—we're developing the next generation of highly skilled workers who will power our state for decades to come."

In addition to the apprenticeship programs, Consumers Energy is expanding its workforce for the Reliability Roadmap efforts including substations projects and undergrounding electric lines. These roles will be filled through a combination of internal transitions and external hires. Employees will receive training in their respective fields ensuring they gain the skills and experience needed to succeed and that our customers can count on us.

Announced in 2023, the Reliability Roadmap is Consumers Energy's blueprint for a smarter, stronger grid. The long-term goals of the Reliability Roadmap are to ensure that no single outage will affect more than 100,000 customers and that customers will always have their power restored within 24 hours.

These new employees will build onto the successes achieved in 2024 during which customers' average time without power was reduced by over 20 minutes, and power was restored to customers within 24 hours 93% of the time.

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 number one is to keep the lights on for customers. We are committed to delivering reliable, clean, and affordable energy to our customers 24/7.

For more information about Consumers Energy, go to ConsumersEnergy.com.

Check out Consumers Energy on Social Media 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/consumersenergymichigan
WordPress: https://force4michigan.com/
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/consumersenergy  
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/consumersenergy 

 

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SOURCE Consumers Energy

FAQ

What are the main goals of Consumers Energy's Reliability Roadmap program?

The Reliability Roadmap aims to limit single outages to affecting no more than 100,000 customers and ensure power restoration within 24 hours.

How many new employees did Consumers Energy (CMS) add to its Electric Lines team in the past year?

Over 100 employees were either hired or promoted in the Journey Worker Electric Lines team.

What improvements did Consumers Energy achieve in power restoration during 2024?

In 2024, average customer outage time was reduced by over 20 minutes, with 93% of customers having power restored within 24 hours.

How many apprentices are currently in Consumers Energy's training programs?

There are 289 active electric lines apprentices in the company's apprenticeship program.

What is the current customer base of Consumers Energy in Michigan?

Consumers Energy serves 6.8 million residents across 68 Lower Peninsula counties with natural gas and electricity services.