Consumers Energy Will Carry out Upgrades to Improve Electric Reliability

Rhea-AI Summary

Consumers Energy has received approval from the Michigan Public Service Commission to implement its Reliability Roadmap, focusing on improving electric service reliability for nearly 2 million customers. The company will undertake an aggressive tree-clearing initiative along 8,000 miles of power lines, addressing the primary cause of power outages.

The comprehensive plan includes infrastructure upgrades and proactive maintenance to enhance grid reliability and reduce costs. The company will also increase technology investments to improve outage detection and response times. As Michigan's largest energy provider, Consumers Energy serves 6.8 million residents across 68 Lower Peninsula counties with natural gas and electricity services.

Positive

• MPSC approval received for grid reliability improvements
• Comprehensive infrastructure upgrade plan to enhance service reliability
• Implementation of advanced technology for faster outage detection and response
• Large-scale preventive maintenance initiative covering 8,000 miles of power lines

Negative

• Significant tree-clearing operations may increase short-term maintenance costs

Ruling Helps Company to Clear Trees from Power Lines, Strengthen Grid

JACKSON, Mich., March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers Energy will move forward with an aggressive plan to clear trees near power lines and strengthen the grid to deliver energy to nearly 2 million homes and businesses, under spending approved today to support the company's Reliability Roadmap.

"We plan to roll up our sleeves and accelerate building the electric grid for the next generation," said Greg Salisbury, Consumers Energy's vice president of electric grid design. "We want our neighbors to know we will be working every day to make our system more reliable and more resilient to keep the lights on, even after the worst storms."

Consumers Energy today received approval from the Michigan Public Service Commission to perform line clearing work that directly improves electric reliability. Trees are the #1 cause of power outages, and the company this year will clear trees along 8,000 miles of lines.

Consumers Energy also will create a modern, stronger and more resilient power grid in other ways: 

• Infrastructure upgrades and proactive maintenance planning to find, fix and prevent issues to help the grid's reliability and lower costs.
• More technology investments to detect and respond more quickly to power outages.

"We know our customers are counting on us to deliver energy more reliably. Today's plan approval gives us more resources to do important work that affects people directly," said Chris Laird, Consumers Energy's vice president of electric operations. "When you see Consumers Energy crews working on a clear day, that means they're making the grid more prepared to withstand bad weather on the worst days." 

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 No. 1 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
Twitter: https://twitter.com/consumersenergy
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/consumersenergy  
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/consumersenergy 

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SOURCE Consumers Energy

FAQ

How many miles of power lines will Consumers Energy (CMS) clear trees from in 2025?

Consumers Energy will clear trees along 8,000 miles of power lines in 2025.

What is the main cause of power outages according to Consumers Energy's 2025 report?

Trees are identified as the #1 cause of power outages in their network.

How many customers will benefit from Consumers Energy's 2025 grid reliability improvements?

The improvements will benefit nearly 2 million homes and businesses.

What is the coverage area of Consumers Energy's service in Michigan?

Consumers Energy serves 6.8 million residents across all 68 Lower Peninsula counties in Michigan.