Consumers Energy Putting More Crews into Action to Help Communities After Pre-Holiday Storm

Consumers Energy Putting More Crews into Action to Help Communities After Pre-Holiday Storm

Jackson, Mich. Saturday, July 04, 2026

Consumers Energy is adding crews this morning to add to its response to the pre-July 4 storm that pummeled southern Michigan. Crews will be working around the clock this weekend to restore power and help communities from the Kalamazoo area to Jackson and Lansing to metro Detroit.

"As of 11 a.m., we have over 300 crews at work and are bringing in more people and equipment right now," said David Hicks, one of Consumers Energy's officers in charge for the storm. "While we wish Mother Nature would have spared Michigan and the Midwest as we celebrate our nation's birthday, we are determined to work safely and efficiently to get the lights back on for our customers."

Consumers Energy has mobilized crews across the southern Lower Peninsula and is working with communities that have July 4 celebrations to help them recover. The company is activating storm trailers and mobile command centers in Allegan, Hillsdale and Adrian to bring supplies and resources closer to hardest-hit areas, speeding up the company's response.

Hicks said Consumers Energy is working to restore power to most customers by the end of the weekend. "We know estimated restoration times can continue to change and appreciate our customers' patience," Hicks said. "We encourage people to continue checking our online outage center for status updates and helpful information."

Consumers Energy customers can check the status of outages at ConsumersEnergy.com/Outage. They can also sign up to get outage alerts and restoration times sent via phone, email or text. Text 'REG' to 232273 or visit www.ConsumersEnergy.com/alerts.

Keep these safety tips in mind:

• 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 slows down the restoration process for everyone.

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

• 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 ofdebris 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.

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