Consumers Energy Restores Power to nearly 45,000 Customers Today in Northern Michigan Following Intense Winter Storm

Consumers Energy Restores Power to nearly 45,000 Customers Today in Northern Michigan Following Intense Winter Storm

Jackson, Mich. Tuesday, March 17, 2026

Consumers Energy is continuing its restoration efforts in northern Michigan, where high winds, ice and snow caused widespread outages.

Nearly 800 crews are staged across the state, including in hard-hit northern Michigan, following a brutal wave of winter weather. Over the last 24 hours, nearly 45,000 customers have had the power restored. Since the storm began, 134,000 customers have been restored. Crews continue to work in 16-hour shifts to repair equipment, access damage, and power through restoration efforts.

Additional crews from Iowa, Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio have joined Consumers Energy in the push to secure the grid and restore power to customers. Cold temperatures have presented a challenge to customers and crews, creating an added layer of difficulty. Despite frigid weather, Consumers Energy remains dedicated to progress.

"Today's temperatures in Northern Michigan were below freezing but that didn't stop our crews from safely and efficiently restoring power to homes and businesses," said Norman Kapala, vice president of grid operations. "We thank customers for their patience as we continue to support these communities after the historic storm."

Consumers Energy will deliver water on Wednesday in Cadillac, West Branch and Harrisville. The company will also offer a free community meal at the Roscommon County Building and Courthouse, on Wednesday, at 500 Lake Street from 11 a.m.- 2 p.m.

Customers who are without power are encouraged to locate a warming centerin their area. Consumers Energy also asks customers to practice extreme caution while traveling as road conditions remain hazardous.

Customers can continue to 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.

Consumers Energy urges the public to keep important safety tips in mind:

• 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 lines actually slows down 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.

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