Consumers Energy Restores Power to over 100,000 Customers Following Brutal Winter Storm

Consumers Energy Restores Power to over 100,000 Customers Following Brutal Winter Storm

Jackson, Mich. Tuesday, March 17, 2026

On the heels of Sunday's brutal winter storm, Consumers Energy has restored power to more than 100,000 customers. Crews worked throughout the night to secure the grid, access damage and move restoration efforts forward.

High winds, ice, and snow caused widespread power outages statewide as a second wave of winter weather moved through the state. The company has over 700 crews working 16-hour shifts. Crews were able to bring a significant amount of customers back online while repairing damage to equipment.

"Our crews worked tirelessly during challenging weather conditions to restore service as quickly and as safely as possible," said Norman Kapala, Vice President of Grid Operations. "While we have more work ahead of us, we appreciate the patience of our customers as we work to bring power back to homes and businesses across Michigan."

Hard-hit areas like northern Michigan received additional support with staged mobile command centers and an emergency response unit, providing communities with much needed aid. The company will continue restoration efforts and damage assessments throughout the day.

The company continues to encourage customers to prioritize their safety and follow these tips:

• Be alert to crews working along roads. Drivers should slow down or stop and wait for oncoming traffic to clear so they can go safely past.

• Stay at least 25 feet away from downed power lines, and report unguarded downed lines by calling 9-1-1 and Consumers Energy at 800-477-5050. Consumers Energy reminds people that falsely calling in downed linesactually slowsdown the restoration process for everyone.

• 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, cleanup 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.

Customers can also check the status of outages at www.ConsumersEnergy.com/OutageCenter. They can also sign up to get outage alerts and restoration times sent to a phone, email or text message, Text 'REG' to 232273 or visit www.ConsumersEnergy.com/alerts.

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Members of the media are reminded to call 1-800-557-4625 to reach a Consumers Energy Media Relations representative 24/7.