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A Year of Investment: 2,700 Electric Reliability Projects Completed by Consumers Energy

In a significant stride towards improving the resiliency of its electric grid, Consumers Energy announced that it completed nearly 2,700 electric reliability projects throughout Michigan in 2025. This initiative stemmed from a commitment to enhance service quality and ensure a stronger, more reliable energy supply for its customers, especially in the face of intense weather challenges.

As severe storms swept across Michigan—bringing historic ice storms, strong winds, and a particularly active tornado season—Consumers Energy made substantial investments in infrastructure. These enhancements were crucial, considering the stark reality of facing 20 percent more weather-related outages yet managing to reduce the overall impact by preventing approximately 130,000 power outages.

Delivering on Promises to Customers

According to Greg Salisbury, the senior vice president and president of the electric grid, “We've promised our customers a stronger, smarter grid, and we are delivering on that promise while being thoughtful about how we spend customer dollars.” With the rise in operational costs affecting many customers, the focus has been directed toward practical upgrades that provide immediate benefits, which include fewer power outages and faster restoration times.

In the detailed report issued by Consumers Energy, various reliability projects highlighted include:

• - Three New Substations: These newly constructed substations are pivotal in segmenting the electric grid into smaller, manageable sections, thereby offering better support to growing communities.
• - Utility Pole Enhancements: A hefty number of 32,173 utility poles were installed to upgrade aging infrastructure.
• - Power Line Inspections: Over 26,069 miles of power lines were inspected using advanced techniques, including the deployment of drones and helicopters, to ensure safety and efficiency.
• - Vegetation Management: More than 8,000 miles of power lines had trees and limbs cleared from them, which is vital in preventing outages caused by debris during storms.
• - Automated Technology Implementations: The introduction of 31 Automated Recloser (ATR) loops was key in rerouting power during outages and minimizing the duration and impact on customers.

Smart Spending for a Sustainable Future

Further emphasizing the need for sustainable and cost-effective solutions, Chris Fultz, vice president of low voltage distribution, stated, “We know customers are feeling the impact of rising costs on everything from groceries to housing and insurance. That is why we are focused on smart, preventative work that strengthens the grid.”

Consumers Energy is committed to its Reliability Roadmap, which includes ambitious goals: ensuring that no customer goes without power for more than 24 hours and that no single weather event leaves more than 100,000 customers powerless. While these goals remain a work in progress, the success seen in 2025 demonstrates notable improvement.

Preparing for Future Weather Challenges

As extreme weather becomes a more frequent occurrence, Consumers Energy is determined to prepare effectively by investing in the necessary equipment and technology to better serve Michigan’s residents. This proactive approach not only aims to minimize disruptions but also seeks long-term cost savings for its customers.

Consumers Energy stands as Michigan's largest energy provider, supplying natural gas and electricity to approximately 6.8 million residents across the Lower Peninsula. This focus on reliability and continuous improvement reflects the company’s dedication to delivering affordable and dependable energy services.

For more information or to learn about Consumers Energy’s ongoing projects, you can visit ConsumersEnergy.com.