MUSKEGON, Mich. — As Consumers Energy crews continue to work towards reinstating power across West Michigan, many residents have been left without power for days- being forced to find ways to stay afloat both physically and financially.
Thursday morning, Consumers Energy said they have restored 90% of customers impacted by Tuesday's storms, using support from five different states and more than 550 crews.
According to the company's live outage map of Muskegon, they expect most outages to be dealt with by the end of the day.
"As of 2 p.m. we have about 6,500 homes and businesses in the community that are without power, and we're really trying to concentrate our effort to get the job done as fast as we can," Brian Wheeler, spokesperson for Consumers Energy said.
"For people who are without power now on day three, we understand that frustration. We understand that desire to get the lights back on. Believe us, it's our priority as well," Wheeler added.
For some residents, however, the damage has already been done.
Edward Corbett had his power knocked out early into the storms on Tuesday. He said that although he's relieved his power may come back soon, it's too little too late.
"You're trying to run through the house, trying to figure out what you got, you know, finding cords and wires and getting gas and the generator hooked up, trying to run through stuff, to try to freeze it, losing some stuff," Corbett said. "You can't live normal at night, no TV, you know, no good power. You can't cook. It's very uncomfortable, very frustrating."
Since early Tuesday morning, Corbett has been running his house on a personal gasoline generator- one he said costs $75 a day to run. Corbett said in order to keep essential home items up and running, like his freezer and air conditioning, he's had to make four to five trips a day to the gas station.
"If you don't have gas or the generator, if I didn't have that, I would be nothing. I would have lost every all my food, you know, four or $500 worth of meat, all the stuff that's already perishable in the refrigerator, ice that's melted all over my floor," Corbett said. "You just can't live like that."
All the while a downed powerline rested on his car.
"The car was still trapped here for a day and a half. So, I had no people to help me out," Corbett said. "I had to walk down there every time with this gas can, get gas to keep it filled up."
Corbett's gas can was one meant for smaller machines like lawnmowers and leaf blowers- meaning he couldn't fill up his generator without three refills.
"It's a nightmare, it's stressful, and it really couldn't afford it, but we have no choice," Corbett said.
Corbett said that through the process, communication with Consumers Energy was limited. Corbett said trucks would show up without warning and only complete parts of the job.
"We waited and waited ... I finally called back the same day, which was Tuesday after the storm, and they said it was someone will be out there one to four hours, and if they ain't out there by 1130 they'll be out there at seven the next morning." Corbett said. "They weren't there that night or seven o'clock the next morning. I got here like eight, 830 the next morning, and the guy came, disconnected the wire, and that's it. "
Corbett said the employee informed him that Consumers Energy would not be able to fix it without replacing his house's electrical mast- suggesting he call an electrician to have it installed. The total cost of installation was $800. Growing the out-of-pocket costs Corbett had to cover substantially.
"At least 12, $1,300 between the electric and and this," Corbett said. "And then we might have to pay the deductible, $1,357 to cover things that are like electrical in the house."
Corbett said he, his wife and three dogs live on limited income. Making these charges incredibly hard to handle. Corbett's insurance, he said, refuses to cover it.
"It stings because I don't, I don't think I should be responsible for paying the electricity when we have house insurance," Corbett said. "It was an act of god, it wasn't our fault. It wasn't our neighbor's fault. It was, you know, the tree fell, and that's what you pay insurance for."
Corbett said that, compiled with pricing for Consumers Energy services, is putting his family in a tough situation.
"They make a lot of money," Corbett said. "Then they raise your prices in the summertime from two to seven o'clock, you know, one and a half or 15, 20, cents a kilowatt. They're gouging us."
Around 20 minutes after 13 ON YOUR SIDE visited Corbett's house, a crew of Consumers Energy linemen came to clean up and possibly reconnect power to his house. Corbett said while he was appreciative crews were working on his home, he said he feels slighted by the groups who were supposed to help him.
"I shouldn't have to go through what I went through, you know, paying my power bill every month, paying my homeowner's insurance every month." Corbett said. "Now I still got to come out of, you know, pocket money to still pay for stuff."
According to Wheeler, single home fixes are low in priority for Consumers Energy. Wheeler said the team focuses on safety and public safety first, like downed powerlines in the middle of roads.
"We also work to make sure that critical infrastructure gets power back first, so hospitals, senior centers, police and fire stations," Wheeler said. "And then from there, you look to see, can you do the most good the most quickly."
Repairs which can bring power to homes at a larger volume are focused on next- leaving repairs like the one at Corbett's home later on the schedule.
Corbett said he understands the busy workload Consumers Energy was dealing with, but a lack of communication left him with little options.
"It's hectic, it's nerve wracking, it's frustrating, it's anger," Corbett said. "You know, there's a lot of issues. It just puts a lot of stress- Running out there, keep filling up the generator to keep it running. Just try to save the food. It's very uncomfortable."
Corbett said after power comes back to his house, his next steps are unclear- not knowing how much more money he will have to pay out of pocket.
His only option, Corbett said, is to wait.
"You got to be strong, you know?" Corbett said. "I mean, it's inconvenience, but I mean, you have no other choice, until I can get my power restored, and then, you know, one day at a time, and go from there, make the best of it."
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