Most Customers on Track for Restoration Friday Night, Hardest-Hit Northern Michigan Communities by Saturday

Helped by better weather, we are on track to restore nearly all the 380,000 customers affected by storms by late Friday.

Hundreds of crews are continuing an around-the-clock push to repair – and in some areas, rebuild – the electric grid in hard-hit northern Michigan counties, which are expected to see power restored by Saturday morning.

As Consumers Energy wraps up restoration work for its customers, the energy provider will work with the State Emergency Operations Center to gradually shift contracted line crews, damage assessment teams and available materials to neighboring northern Michigan utilities to support their restoration efforts.

“Damage caused by this week’s storms was no less than catastrophic across the state, and especially in northern Michigan,” said Norm Kapala, one of Consumers Energy’s Officers in Charge of restoration. “We thank our customers for their patience, perseverance and understanding as we complete final restoration. Because we count all of Michigan among our friends and neighbors, we also look forward to helping other northern Michigan utilities restore their customers’ power. We’re all in this together.”

The spirit of togetherness was felt by Zack Mat, a Consumers Energy tree trimmer in northern Michigan working alongside crews to help clear paths for restoration.

“The destruction left from this storm has put thousands of our neighbors in distress. I just want them to know, we are out here. We are thinking about you. Line crews and tree companies are working side by side to restore power to our great northern Michigan community. Stay strong. Stay hopeful. Stay together. We are Michiganders,” Mat said.

Consumers Energy’s work to inform and support northern Michigan residents and communities included providing water to seven community shelters in northern Michigan and hosting a food truck at the Gaylord community shelter that served more than 420 customers. Consumers Energy also conducted several community storm briefings to keep local and state elected officials, and first responders informed about restoration work.

Sisterhood of Strong

The COVID-19 pandemic has touched us all. That’s why we continue to provide resources to nonprofits and small businesses impacted by the crisis.

In May, the Consumers Energy Foundation donated $1.8 million to community organizations supporting small businesses across Michigan, focusing on helping female- and minority-owned companies.

Our foundation does not use funds generated from customers’ energy bills. Instead, it uses shareholder funds to support nonprofit organizations across Michigan.

Here is a look at a business that received a grant and how the funds are helping handle the operational challenges created by COVID-19.

Strong Body, Healthy Mind, Thriving Soul

Theresa Horne has made it her life’s work to help people get and stay healthy. As a health and fitness coach for her company, Sisterhood of Strong, she powered through during the Stay Home, Stay Safe order thanks to a grant from the Jackson Community Foundation and the Enterprise Group of Jackson.

coach image Before COVID-19 hit, Horne met with clients across Jackson and taught fitness classes at the Jackson YMCA, Springport schools and a pilates studio. After sheltering in place, the grant funding helped Horne leverage technology to connect with her clients.

“I invested in a lot of technology like paid subscriptions to online meeting sites so people could feel connected and receive the quality interaction that I aspire to,” she said. “I also invested in a place to host materials like a playbook or manual that I used to give to clients in person.”

Horne transferred many handouts and forms to digital and is connecting with her 20 clients online for now. She started focusing more intensely on her health in 2014 when a doctor’s visit revealed she was overweight.

“I’m not a tiny person today but I am fit and healthy,” Horne said. “When I first started at the Y, I didn’t feel comfortable as the biggest person there. But I was there for me and that is what mattered. Fitness is for everybody of every size. Every color and gender, too. I just wanted to get as healthy as I could at my size. Some of my clients are not overweight, but they are not eating healthy. It becomes a mindset and lifestyle change.”

Horne has shifted her business strategy due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I want to continue to grow in the online marketplace,” she said. “People go to a gym, but others are not interested. I want to bring fitness to the people that want to be fit but are not ready to do that in a public atmosphere.”

“We all deserve the opportunity to build a strong body, healthy mind and thriving soul.”