Consumers Energy works to restore power after high winds cause outages across Michigan

Within a single week, the service territory of Michigan’s largest energy provider, Consumers Energy, was hit twice with power outages when gale force winds caused widespread damage across the state.

According to updates provided Friday morning, the company noted it had restored power to 85,000 customers out of the 190,000 who lost electricity from the latest storm. Consumers provides power to 6.8 million of Michigan’s residents.

Hundreds of crews worked overnight to continue restoration. Consumers Energy’s goal remains focused on restoring power to most of its remaining customers by Saturday night. 

“We thank our customers for their patience as our crews continue the around the clock restoration efforts,” Guy Packard, one of Consumers Energy’s Officers in Charge for the storm event, said in a statement on Friday. “Mother Nature continued with high winds throughout much of the day on Thursday and we are hopeful for even more significant progress today for our 420 total crews working this effort.”

At the heart of the issue were wind gusts that reached 65-75 mph on Wednesday night and Thursday morning across Michigan’s western and northwestern Lower Peninsula. The storm was severe enough that it bowled over trees, downed more than 2,400 power lines, and snapped 170 utility poles in the process. 

The sheer intensity of the winds meant that in some cases, the storm even achieved Category 1 hurricane winds. 

“We also saw sustained high winds throughout the day, making safe restoration efforts even more challenging,” Christine Wisniewski, another of Consumers Energy’s Officers in Charge for the storm event, said Thursday night. “Nothing is more important than protecting our customers, our co-workers and the communities we serve. With these high winds dying down this evening, we expect more friendly weather conditions for restoration.”

While restoration work proceeds, Consumers warns residents to watch out both for downed lines and crews working along roads. 

The latest storm followed another on Dec. 11 that knocked power out for another 151,000 customers as a result of 55 mph gusts. That storm also broke 192 power poles and damaged more than 2,500 power lines throughout the middle and southern portions of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. Like the current case, this prompted work crews to toil for 16 hour shifts to restore power as quickly as possible. 

In addition to power restoration efforts, Consumers crews will also be trimming and removing interfering trees, although clean-up of debris will be left to individual property owners. The company warned that the storm may have also damaged electric service wires to various customers’ homes or businesses. While the crews will be able to reconnect those wires, licensed electricians will be required to repair or replace any damaged masts or cables.