JACKSON, MI, April 28, 2026 – Consumers Energy made strong progress overnight, restoring power to 30,000 out of more than 83,000 customers affected by Monday’s powerful winds. Over 500 crews are at work today with a goal to get lights back on for most customers by midnight.
“We’re very encouraged by our crews’ progress and expect to continue our momentum through the day today,” said Norm Kapala, one of Consumers Energy’s officers in charge for restoration. “Our coworkers in the field are committed to a safe restoration for our customers and are working efficiently for the communities we serve.”
Monday’s powerful storm brought wind gusts above 60 mph in West Michigan. Calhoun and Kalamazoo counties were especially hard-hit, and that’s where Consumers Energy will continue to focus resources today. The energy provider has set up mobile storm units and command centers in both Battle Creek and the Kalamazoo area, bringing equipment and people into the field to speed up the restoration process.
As day breaks, Consumers Energy continues to urge people to be careful if they need to travel. 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.
“We’re confident we’ll return power to our friends and neighbors, but our top priority is to make sure that our coworkers and customers get through today safely,” Kapala said.
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.
- 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.
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