Consumers Energy Deploys Emergency Response Unit to Hardest Hit Areas Impacted by Winter Storm to Expedite Restoration Efforts  

JACKSON, MI, Dec. 30, 2025 – Following two rounds of winter weather over the last several days that swept through Michigan, Consumers Energy has been working around the clock, deploying nearly 630 crews to restore power to the more than 230,000 customers who have been impacted since Friday, December 26.  

To help expedite restoration efforts, the energy provider, this week, launched the inaugural deployment of its new emergency response trailer. The trailer is designed to aid lineworkers in the hardest hit areas on the ground working to restore power. The vehicle is staffed with an emergency response team that provides crews working around the clock access to food, water, and clean clothes to allow them to more quickly get back to the important work needed to get the lights back on for our neighbors. The trailer, stationed in Clare County this week, is also serving as a communications hub – outfitted with high frequency radios and internet to keep crews in touch with dispatchers working to identify outages as they come in.  

“As we narrow in on the final stages of restoration efforts, our emergency response crews remain dedicated to assisting the communities we serve to ensure a safe and timely return to a sense of normal,” said Norm Kapala, one of Consumers Energy’s Officers in Charge for restoration. “If you see our emergency response teams in your area – or our blue, white and green bucket trucks out, you can rest assured help is on the way.” 

Consumers Energy is committed to an all-hands-on-deck response with a goal to restore power to all communities, including the hardest hit areas in Northwest and Mid-Michigan by end of the day tomorrow.  

“It’s been a mess here in the Harrison area. We just wanted to thank you and all the linemen for all the hard work getting power back to everyone. We appreciate all of you so very much,” said Wendy Ransom, Consumers Energy customer, Clare County.  

Customers can check the status of outages at ConsumersEnergy.com/OutageCenter. They can also sign up for outage alerts and restoration times sent to a phone, email or text message, Text ‘REG' to 232273 or visit ConsumersEnergy.com/Alerts.  

Consumers Energy urges the public to keep other important safety tips in mind:  

• Be alert to crews working along  Drivers should slow down or stop and wait for oncoming traffic to clear so they can go safely past. 
• 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 actually 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, clean-up 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.