Consumers Energy Says Electric Reliability up 20% Over Last Five Years

JACKSON  -- Consumers Energy said Wednesday that its nearly $1 billion investment over the past five years is paying off for its 1.8 million customers, producing a 20 percent improvement in electric reliability. 

In addition, during last summer's peak load day – when the demand for electricity was Consumers Energy's highest ever -- customers experienced more than a 60 percent reduction in heat-related outages compared to previous year's peak load days. 

"Our investment plan is paying off for customers. We are committed to using the best tools and technology available in our industry to provide customers with a high level of electric reliability," said Garrick Rochow, Consumers Energy's vice president of energy delivery.  "Our employees know that our customers count on them to provide reliable service, and to quickly and safely restore power when storms hit Michigan."

Consumers Energy invests about $150 million per year to upgrade and modernize its electric distribution system.  This work includes inspecting and replacing poles and cross-arms; replacing transformers, insulators, and adding new electric wires.  The company is also installing new automatic relay equipment and strengthening animal protection measures at substations to further improve reliability. In addition, Consumers Energy invests up to $45 million per year on line-clearing work to enhance reliability and reduce tree and vegetation contact with electric lines. 

Consumers Energy recently launched an on-line outage map that allows anyone to see the location of outages and get an estimated time of service restoration. The outage map is available at www.ConsumersEnergy.com/outagemap

Consumers Energy, the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy (NYSE:  CMS), provides natural gas and electricity to 6.6 million of Michigan's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.