MICHIGAN, USA — Consumers Energy has already restored power to around 10,000 customers after a winter storm knocked out power to over 70,000 through Saturday morning.
As of 1:55 p.m. on Saturday, Consumers Energy is still working to restore power to over 60,000 customers in Michigan, including around 20,000 in West Michigan.
Outage restoration times listed on Consumer Energy's outage map show that estimates range from just a few minutes from now through midday Sunday.
As of 1:55 p.m., Saturday, the number of customers in each county affected by an outage are:
- Allegan - 4,051
- Barry - 1,558
- Ionia - 192
- Kalamazoo - 888
- Kent - 4,083
- Mecosta - 1,034
- Montcalm - 492
- Muskegon - 2,287
- Newaygo - 484
- Ottawa - 3,488
In case of an outage:
- Charge all electronic devices. It’s advised to have an emergency battery or charging station available for use during an outage.
- Have an emergency kit that includes flashlights and extra batteries, water, canned food and blankets. Be prepared with enough medication, baby supplies and pet food if applicable. A battery-operated radio is also a good idea.
- Unplug sensitive electronics like TVs, computers and printers. Turn power strips off.
- Consumers Energy urges the public to keep important safety tips in mind:
- Stay at least 25 feet away from downed power lines, and to report unguarded downed lines by calling 9-1-1 and Consumers Energy at 800-477-5050.
- Never use a generator in an attached garage, basement, enclosed patio or near any air intakes. Doing so could cause a generator to produce hazardous levels of carbon monoxide, an odorless, colorless and deadly gas. Read more guidance on safe generator use here.
- Consumers Energy will trim or remove trees interfering with electric restoration activities. Once safe to do so, clean-up of debris from tree trimming or removal during a storm emergency is the responsibility of individual property owners.
- In some cases, the mast that holds the electric service wires to a home or business may have been damaged or torn away. Crews will reconnect the wires to a home, but only a licensed electrician can repair or replace a mast or a cable.
Consumers Energy is Michigan’s largest energy provider, providing natural gas and/or electricity to 6.7 million of the state’s 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.
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