Consumers Energy gives update on power restoration efforts
MID-MICHIGAN (WNEM) - Consumers Energy gave an update on power restoration efforts after severe thunderstorms packing high winds blew across the Great Lakes State.
A Consumers Energy spokesperson said the weather late Thursday night and early Friday morning was pretty severe for Michigan by mid-May standards.
“We are working around the clock. All these crews are on a 16 and 8 schedule. And we do have 24/7 coverage in all of our service territories,” said Andy Synder, executive director of electric operations for Consumers Energy.
He gave an update on power restoration efforts in Michigan. Strong to severe storms with high winds, and tornadoes raced across the Great Lakes State Thursday night into Friday morning. At last check, about 170,000 customers were without power.
“We expect to have the majority of our customers on our Consumers Energy service territory restored sometime late in the evening Saturday night, which is tomorrow night,” Snyder said.
He cautioned that hard hit areas on the west side of the state from Battle Creek and Kalamazoo north to Muskegon may have to wait until Sunday night, May 18.
Our TV5 First Alert forecast is calling for the possibility of more severe storms Friday night.
For its part, Consumers Energy said it’s ready.
“We’re securing additional crews and making sure we have sufficient materials staged to be ready to restore whatever additional damage may come over the overnight hours tonight,” said spokesperson Greg Salisbury.
Consumers Energy is asking everyone to be alert to crews working along roads and to slow down. People should also stay at least 25 feet away from downed power lines. Anyone who comes across an unguarded downed line should call 911 and then Consumers Energy.
To keep up to date with power outages in your area, check the Consumers Energy outage map or the DTE outage map.
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