For over a century, Consumers Energy has been the backbone of Michigan’s energy infrastructure, powering homes, businesses, and industries across the Lower Peninsula. Serving 6.8 million residents with electricity and natural gas, the company is more than an energy provider—it is an innovator driving sustainability and community-focused initiatives that ensure a brighter future for generations to come.
Reliability: The Foundation of Hometown Service
Consumers Energy knows that in today’s world, reliable energy is not a luxury—it’s a necessity. Every day, more than 8,000 people strengthen Michigan’s power grid, ensuring it remains operational and resilient for generations to come.
Chris Laird, Vice President of Electric Distribution, says: “We’re building an electric grid that stands up to even more severe weather, ensuring more reliable power for the people who count on us. We’ll continue doing even more of this important work to reach our goal of restoring power to all our customers in all situations in less than 24 hours.
”The company has committed $1 billion toward strengthening Michigan’s electric grid, ensuring that power outages become less frequent and shorter when they do occur. By leveraging cutting-edge technology like infrared inspection programs, Consumers Energy prevents outages for thousands of customers by conducting comprehensive inspections at each substation around Michigan. Additionally, its helicopter and ground inspection teams survey tens of thousands of miles of high-voltage distribution (HVD) lines to prevent power disruptions for customers.
“In 2024, we had a great year bringing our Electric Reliability Roadmap to life for customers who count on us to bring them reliable service every single day,” says Keith Kurdziel, Director of High Voltage Reliability and Support at Consumers Energy. “Now, in 2025, our goal is to provide sustainable improvement that builds on the success in 2024 by reducing outages.
”Consumers Energy also continues to deploy Automatic Transfer Reclosers (ATRs), a game-changing smart technology that functions like traffic lights, automatically restoring power from another source to minimize disruption. As part of the broader Reliability Roadmap, the company invested $63.5 million in 1,350 major projects, ensuring nearly 2 million homes and businesses experience fewer and shorter power outages.
“There isn’t one thing that will improve our reliability overnight,” Keith affirms. “It’s maintaining our strong inspection practices, adopting new technology, and improving the successful technology at our disposal. It’s a daily mission we take very seriously to keep the lights on for our customers across the Mitten.”
A Green Tomorrow: Consumers Energy’s Clean Energy Plan
As Michigan moves toward a more sustainable future, Consumers Energy is shifting to 90% clean energy resources. This shift to renewable energy and efficiency programs will create a greener Michigan and save customers $600 million over the next 20 years.
“By taking small steps for the betterment of Michigan, we can protect our planet, boost our state’s local economies, and lower energy use,” enthuses Lauren Snyder, Vice President of Customer Experience.
Consumers Energy has a bold ambition to be net zero by 2040. “Innovation and reliability are key parts of our plan. We will deliver reliable energy to our customers through our Clean Energy Plan—a diverse mix of generation supply that includes natural gas plants, renewables like solar and wind, and battery storage,” Lauren asserts. “The other aspect of our plan is an opportunity to engage with Michiganders in ways we haven’t before. We are working with them to use less energy and to shift usage.
Consumers Energy’s commitment to renewable energy is evident in its growing portfolio of solar projects. Jessica Woycehoski, Executive Director of Renewable Operations, highlights the company’s approach: “We have several solar arrays across the state, and we continue to build more as we work toward our Clean Energy Plan. In the future, we will use bifacial solar panels that capture sunlight from both the front and back of the panel. On those snowy winter days, when the sun reflects off the snow, it will hit the back of the panels, increasing energy generation and providing more energy for our customers 365 days a year. Another technological improvement is that our solar panels will have single-axis trackers that will track the sun to give more and more power throughout the day.
”Beyond solar, the company operates the Ludington Pumped Storage Facility, a hydroelectric plant on Lake Michigan that acts as a massive battery. “We use it to pump water into an 840-acre reservoir. When energy demand spikes, that water is released, spinning turbines to generate power,” Jessica explains.
Neal Dreisig, Executive Director of Natural Gas Strategy and Projects, shares another Consumers Energy innovation, this time on the natural gas side of the business. “The Overisel Gas Compression Station receives gas from outside the state, pressurizes it, and stores it underground,” he explains. “While Michigan’s geography as a peninsula poses challenges, its natural underground formations serve as ideal storage. We buy gas in summer when prices are low, store it, and deliver it in winter when demand rises—ensuring customers benefit from lower summer rates.”
A People-First Approach: Supporting Michigan’s Communities
Consumers Energy’s mission goes beyond providing energy—it is committed to supporting the people of Michigan. From Flint to Grand Rapids, the company has launched initiatives to support families, businesses, and workers.
“We make decisions through the lens of what’s best for people, our planet, and prosperity, particularly for the state of Michigan,” Lauren says. “As we watch the economics of renewables improve, we knew that would translate into more affordable bills for our customers—that is a win. More renewable resources mean cleaner air, and cleaner air means a better quality of life for everyone. When we think about prosperity, many companies have made sustainability goals. In the spirit of retaining and attracting new businesses, we also want to deliver renewable solutions for them.
”One of the company’s most impactful programs is the energy efficiency initiative in Flint. “One of our favorite things to do is partner with customers by going into their homes to help them understand how energy efficiency works and teach them strategies to use less energy.
We saw a chance to help Flint residents benefit from energy efficiency programs,” shares Lauren. “But they needed good roofing, insulation, and windows. At no cost to them, we provided those upgrades so they could actually see sustainable savings. The next step? Workforce development—training Flint residents in new skills that benefit both them and our industry. It demonstrates how, together, our communities can count on us to create a more sustainable future.
”For Consumers Energy employees, transitioning to greener energy also brings career growth. Kelsea Salgado, who started in the call center, moved into coal plant operations and later joined the underground power line department. “Consumers Energy made it extremely easy to transition,” she says. “There’s a multi-step process—classroom training, field training, and an apprenticeship program that prepares us for success.
”The move to underground power lines is another major reliability initiative directly benefiting communities. “Before working in underground lines, I was in the call center,” Kelsea explains. “I took calls about downed power lines, trees on wires, and outages caused by storms. Burying power lines eliminates many of those dangers, making neighborhoods safer and electricity supply more reliable.”
Innovation for a Resilient Future
Consumers Energy is keeping up with energy trends and setting the pace. The company employs robotic technology, including Spot, a robotic dog that patrols substations using infrared cameras to detect potential issues before they become outages.
“Consumers Energy is working actively to build a smarter and stronger electric grid, says Chris. “Spot is part of that. So are many other efforts across the state.
”Additionally, the company is utilizing line sensors that clip onto power lines, pinpointing the exact location of faults. This technology speeds up repairs and enhances restoration efforts during storms and emergencies.
With more than 96,000 miles of electrical distribution lines—enough to circle the Earth nearly four times—Consumers Energy’s commitment to innovation ensures that every neighborhood, no matter how remote, has access to reliable power.
A Bright Future for Michigan
Consumers Energy is not just an energy provider but a partner in Michigan’s future. Whether through its Reliability Roadmap, Clean Energy Plan, or deep-rooted commitment to community well-being, the company is redefining what it means to be an energy provider.
“When I joined Consumers Energy in 2003, it felt like coming home—not only to the place where my dad worked and retired, but where all our co-workers share a commitment to serve our customers, our communities, and the state of Michigan,” says Garrick J. Rochow, President and CEO. “Leading the clean energy transformation is the opportunity of our generation. This is our moonshot moment. The best part? We get to lead it for our customers, state, and planet.
”With an unwavering commitment to reliability, sustainability, and community-first service, Consumers Energy is lighting the way toward a better, greener, and more resilient Michigan for all.
