Oh Tannenbaum! Consumers Energy Helps Michigan Communities Plant Trees in the Right Place

Rhea-AI Summary

Consumers Energy (NYSE: CMS) invested over $500,000 in tree-planting grants since 2019, funding nearly 3,500 trees across its electric service territory. In 2025 the program planted 423 trees in 34 communities while the company cleared trees and limbs from nearly 8,000 miles of power lines.

The effort targets species planted safely away from electric lines to reduce future maintenance and support long-term reliability; trees and branches account for nearly 40% of interruptions. Consumers Energy serves 6.8 million of Michigan’s 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.

Key Figures

Tree planting investment Over $500,000 Tree planting grants since 2019

Trees planted Nearly 3,500 trees Planted across electric service territory since 2019

Trees planted 2025 423 trees Planted this year in 34 communities

Communities 2025 34 communities Received tree planting grants this year

Clare trees 10 trees Planted in Clare via grant

Outage contribution Nearly 40% Outages caused by trees and branches

Line clearing 2025 Nearly 8,000 miles Power lines cleared of trees and limbs in 2025

Customers served 6.8 million residents Natural gas and/or electricity in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties

Market Reality Check

$70.42 Last Close

Volume Volume 2,247,525 is about 1.08x the 20-day average 2,088,328 ahead of this CSR update. normal

Technical Price $69.91 is trading below the 200-day MA at $72.15, indicating a softer longer-term trend.

Peers on Argus

CMS was down 1.2% pre‑news while peers like EIX (-1.58%), FE (-1.06%), PPL (-0.70%), CNP (-0.68%) and DTE (-0.46%) also traded lower, but no momentum scanner sector signal appeared.

Historical Context

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Dec 11	Customer safeguards	Neutral	-0.4%	Company opposed rehearing of MPSC order on large energy-intensive customers.
Dec 09	Customer assistance	Positive	-0.1%	Announced senior-focused bill credits and protection plans for winter energy bills.
Nov 14	Preferred dividend	Positive	+0.0%	Declared quarterly dividend on 4.200% Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred, Series C.
Nov 14	Subsidiary dividend	Positive	+0.0%	Consumers Energy declared quarterly dividend on its $4.50 preferred stock CMS_pb.
Nov 04	Debt offering	Neutral	+0.6%	Priced $850M of 3.125% convertible senior notes due 2031 to refinance notes.

Pattern Detected

Recent CMS headlines (customer protections, senior assistance, capital markets, dividends) have mostly seen modest price moves aligned with the news tone, with one mild selloff on positive customer-assistance news.

Recent Company History

Over the last few months, CMS issued mainly operational, capital-structure and shareholder-return updates. On Nov 4, 2025, it priced $850 million of 3.125% convertible senior notes due 2031 to refinance debt and for general purposes. On Nov 14, 2025, CMS and Consumers Energy declared preferred dividends. Early December news focused on senior bill assistance and data-center customer safeguards. Today’s tree-planting announcement continues the theme of reliability and community-focused initiatives.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement underscores CMS’s focus on reliability and community engagement, highlighting over $500,000 invested in tree planting grants and nearly 3,500 trees planted, plus clearing nearly 8,000 miles of lines in 2025. It complements earlier customer-assistance and regulatory initiatives by framing vegetation management as both an environmental and outage-reduction strategy. Investors may watch how such programs feed into outage metrics, regulatory relationships, and long-term infrastructure spending.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

Nearly 3,500 Trees Planted with Over $500,000 Invested

JACKSON, Mich., Dec. 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers Energy is getting in the holiday spirit by celebrating the beauty and importance of trees. Through a partnership with the Michigan Forestry and Parks Association (MFPA), Consumers Energy has invested over $500,000 in tree planting grants since 2019, resulting in nearly 3,500 trees planted across its electric service territory, including 423 trees this year in 34 communities.

"Trees are a gift that keeps giving," said Sara Stewart, Director of Forestry Operations at Consumers Energy. "By prioritizing planting the right trees in the right places, we're creating benefits that last for generations while helping protect electric reliability."

Our tree planting grant program is helping communities grow greener while ensuring the right tree is in the right place supporting safety and electric reliability. These efforts focus on planting species that thrive safely away from electric lines, reducing future maintenance and promoting long-term reliability.

"Thanks to Consumers Energy's grant, we were able to plant 10 trees in Clare that will provide shade, beauty and environmental benefits for years to come," said Luke Potter, superintendent for the City of Clare Department of Public Works. "This program is a wonderful example of how partnerships can make our communities stronger."

Trees and branches are a leading cause of outages, accounting for nearly 40% of all interruptions. Planting trees thoughtfully supports Consumers Energy's ongoing work to keep Michigan's electric system strong. This approach complements Consumers Energy's line clearing program, which is a key part of its Reliability Roadmap. In 2025 alone, Consumers Energy is clearing trees and limbs from nearly 8,000 miles of power lines.

As families across Michigan choose their perfect tree to celebrate the season, Consumers Energy is also celebrating by helping communities choose the right species in the right location. This thoughtful approach minimizes future trimming and ensures trees and power lines can safely coexist, creating a greener and more reliable Michigan for generations to come.

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. We are committed to delivering reliable and affordable energy to our customers 24/7.

Learn more at ConsumersEnergy.com.

 

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SOURCE Consumers Energy

FAQ

What did Consumers Energy (CMS) announce on December 17, 2025 about tree planting?

Consumers Energy announced it has invested over $500,000 since 2019, resulting in nearly 3,500 trees planted across its service territory, including 423 trees in 2025.

How does the Consumers Energy tree program aim to improve electric reliability for CMS customers?

By planting species away from power lines and complementing line clearing, the program aims to reduce tree-related outages, which cause nearly 40% of interruptions.

How many miles of power lines did Consumers Energy clear in 2025?

Consumers Energy cleared trees and limbs from nearly 8,000 miles of power lines in 2025.

How many customers does Consumers Energy (CMS) serve in Michigan?

Consumers Energy provides natural gas and/or electricity to 6.8 million of Michigan’s 10 million residents across all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.

How many communities benefited from Consumers Energy tree grants in 2025?

In 2025 the grant program supported tree planting in 34 communities, including local plantings like 10 trees in Clare.