Consumers Energy prepares for weekend weather impacts

MICHIGAN (WNEM) – Consumers Energy crews are preparing for a second round of snowfall Saturday and Sunday.

Consumers said since Wednesday morning, crews have restored power to over 60,000 customers since the high winds began. Almost 200 crews are being pre-staged across the state in preparation for expected snowfall.

“We want our customers to know that we continue to stand ready throughout the weekend to restore power as safely and quickly as possible,” said Norm Kapala, Consumers Energy’s vice president of grid operations. “Our line workers and other field crews are ready to be deployed into impacted communities, and we’re gathering trucks and essential materials to assist with any restoration efforts.”

Consumers is urging residents to be alert and keep a safe distance from crews who may be out working. Residents are encouraged to visit Consumers’ website for tips on preparing for storms. Kapala shared some of those tips:

• Charge all electronic devices and have an emergency battery available during an outage.
• Have an emergency kit with flashlights, batteries, water, canned food, and blankets. Be prepared with enough medication, baby supplies and pet food, if needed. Have a battery-operated radio nearby.
• Unplug sensitive devices including TVs, computers and printers, and turn power strips off.
• Have a food safety plan. Know in advance how long food can remain safe if the power goes out, and what steps to take. Charts are available on the Food Safety website.

Subscribe to the WNEM TV5 newsletter and receive the latest local news and weather straight to your email every day.

Copyright 2025 WNEM. All rights reserved.