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Consumers Energy Extends Crews' Working Hours for Reliability Improvements

As the year draws to a close, Consumers Energy is ramping up its initiatives to enhance the reliability of electric services for its customers. The company announced that its crews and contractors are working extended hours—including evenings and weekends—in a bid to expedite critical maintenance and infrastructure upgrades.

Chris Fultz, Consumers Energy's vice president of low voltage distribution, emphasized the importance of reliability, especially in the final stretch of the year. “Our customers count on us for safe, reliable service year-round,” he stated. This seasonal push aims to complete essential reliability projects before the onset of colder temperatures, ensuring the system can handle the demands of winter.

Increased Resources and Proactive Measures

To facilitate these extended hours, Consumers Energy is allocating more resources and optimizing working hours. This initiative will allow for a greater workforce presence to accelerate necessary upgrades and improvements. Among the key activities being undertaken include:

• - Upgrading Poles, Lines, and Transformers: The company is focusing on enhancing the infrastructure that forms the backbone of its electric service.
• - Proactive Tree Trimming: Crews are actively trimming trees near power lines, an important step to minimize the risk of outages caused by falling branches during storms.
• - Replacing Aging Equipment: Equipment that is nearing the end of its service life is being replaced to ensure that the system remains robust and efficient.
• - Installing Smart Grid Technology: This cutting-edge redesign aims to reduce outage times significantly when they do occur.

Managing Community Impact

While these upgrades are essential, they do come with some short-term inconveniences for local residents. Consumers Energy advises that during work hours, traffic may be temporarily affected, and some residents might experience noise outside of typical business hours. To alleviate concerns, all workers and contractors will have clearly marked vehicles and identification so that the community can feel secure about the ongoing work.

The expanded schedule not only aims to complete more projects in a shorter period but also strives to prevent outages and service disruptions during harsh winter months. “We appreciate our customers' patience as we work to strengthen the system,” notes Fultz, highlighting the importance of community cooperation during this critical period.

Commitment to Reliability

In 2024, Consumers Energy performed over 1,350 major upgrades, including clearing trees and branches along 7,000 miles of electric lines. With the intensified efforts planned for the last quarter of 2025, the company is on track to outdo last year's performance. As Michigan's largest energy provider, Consumers Energy serves 6.8 million residents across all 68 Lower Peninsula counties, and it understands the paramount importance of maintaining reliable electric service.

To summarize, with the lights set to stay bright through the winter, Consumers Energy is committed to delivering reliable, flexible, and affordable energy every day of the year. More details about the company and its ongoing initiatives can be found at ConsumersEnergy.com.