Budget Plan | Consumers Energy

Budget Plan at a Glance

First We Calculate Your Monthly Payment

We calculate a consistent payment plan based on your past energy use. We also take weather into account. Learn How Payments Are Calculated

Every 4 Months We Review Payment vs Use

We compare your energy use and payment plan every three months. Then, we adjust your payment if needed. Our Review Process

Every 12 Months We Balance Your Account

Whether you have used less energy than you paid for or more, we’ll make sure your payment arrangement is correct. Balancing Your Account

Enroll Any Time

Before enrolling into Budget Plan, please try to pay any open items. This includes paying your current bill as this will bring your monthly plan amount lower overall.

If your past due balance is less than $75, it can be rolled into your Budget Plan payment plan. However, if your past due balance is more than $75 you will need to lower your balance below $75 before you can enroll. For information about payment assistance and programs that can help lower your past due amount, please visit our Payment Plans & Assistance page.

Non-energy costs are not included into Budget Plan. Examples of non-energy costs are Solar Gardens subscriptions as well as Customer Attachment Program loans received from new services.

Please Note: If you have defaulted on your payment twice in the past 12 months, you will not be able to enroll in the Budget Plan.

For Auto-pay Customers

When enrolling, if you didn’t pay your current bill yet, your next auto-payment won’t happen until after you receive your first Budget Plan bill. Note that non-energy related charges will still take place as normal.
If you de-enroll from Budget Plan and still have a current balance on your account, that balance will be deducted the next day.

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How We Calculate Your Payment

We add up all of your energy bills from the past 12 months
We add in a weather factor amount. This is to prepare for Michigan’s unpredictable and severe weather.
We divide it by 12 to arrive at your consistent payment.

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We Review Your Payment Every 4 Months

Every 4 Months We Compare Your Payment with Your Actual Energy Use.

At that time, your payment could be adjusted based on usage. To see your adjusted payment, just check the account information of your bill, or see your account dashboard online.

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After 1 Year We Balance Your Account

If you have used more energy than you have paid for:
- We will roll the extra amount you owe into your new Budget Plan payment.
- If you choose not to re-enroll we will add the amount you owe to your next energy bill.
If you have used less energy than you have paid for:
- We will apply a credit to your next bill(s) until the credit is gone.

Get a More Consistent Payment Year-Round

Have Questions? We’re Here to Help.