Consumers Energy Cuts Power Outages by 21 Minutes in 2024

JACKSON, Mich. (AP) — Consumers Energy reported significant improvements in power reliability for its nearly 2 million customers in 2024, reducing average outage times by 21 minutes compared to the previous year. The company also achieved a 93% power restoration rate within 24 hours, up from 87% in 2023.

The average customer experienced 155 minutes without power in normal weather conditions last year, down from 176 minutes in 2023. This 12% reduction marks the largest improvement in outage duration over the past decade, according to company officials.

“We’re excited to better serve our friends and neighbors through our Reliability Roadmap,” said Greg Salisbury, Consumers Energy’s vice president of grid design. “Even with major storms and tornadoes last year, we moved closer to goals that enable better quality of life in the Michigan communities we serve.”

Consumers Energy’s long-term goals include limiting major storm outages to no more than 100,000 customers and restoring power to all customers within 24 hours. The company attributed the 2024 improvements to faster responses to catastrophic storms and ongoing investments in grid infrastructure.

“We understand how important it is to keep the lights on for our communities who count on us, and we’re driven to do better every day,” said Chris Laird, Consumers Energy’s vice president of electric distribution. “When you see Consumers Energy crews at work, they’re adding new technology, clearing trees away, or burying power lines to build a stronger grid.”

In 2024, the company implemented over 1,350 major upgrades and cleared trees along 7,000 miles of electric lines. Other improvements included deploying new technology, infrared cameras, durable iron poles, and robotic assistance.

Consumers Energy is Michigan’s largest energy provider, serving 6.8 million of the state’s 10 million residents with natural gas and/or electricity across all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.