Consumers Energy Focuses on Hardest-Hit Communities to Restore Power from Storm

Consumers Energy Focuses on Hardest-Hit Communities to Restore Power from Storm

Jackson, Mich. Sunday, July 05, 2026

Consumers Energy will be focusing today on communities hit hardest by this weekend's pre-holiday storm, moving more crews into Hillsdale, Adrian and the Lansing and Battle Creek areas. The company plans to restore power to a majority of affected customers by the end of the day.

"We are grateful for our customers' patience and understanding. With 425 crews at work, we're pushing aggressively to get the lights on for everyone even in areas where Friday's winds took down whole trees and snapped poles in half," said David Hicks, one of Consumers Energy's officers in charge for this storm.

Consumers Energy crews are joined by Michigan contractors and lineworkers from Ohio, Maryland and Alabama today. The company has activated storm trailers and mobile command centers in Allegan, Hillsdale and Adrian to bring supplies and resources closer to those areas, speeding up the company's response.

Hicks said Consumers Energy crews face a challenge in terms of the severity of the damage. Friday's storm brought 60 to 80 mph winds across southern Michigan, and work involves more than restoring power.

"Our hearts go out to our customers and communities who are waiting for us to restore power, but also are dealing with blocked roads and damaged homes," Hicks said. "We are focused on doing our job safely for the good of the communities we serve, and making sure we help every last customer who counts on us."

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 of debris 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.