JACKSON,
Mich., April 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers
Energy proposed a $272 million
investment in Michigan's energy
future to support a more reliable, resilient, and increasingly
clean energy system for its customers. The company is seeking
approval from the Michigan Public Service Commission for this
plan.
"The main priority of our plan is simple: fewer, shorter and
less frequent power outages for our customers which requires a
modernized grid," said Guy Packard,
vice president of electric operations. "Like any tool that people
use to power their lives – whether that's a car, cell phone, an
appliance or a house – the energy grid needs care and investment to
work properly without interuption. We're committed to powering our
customers' lives with reliable energy now and in the future with
this requested investment."
Consumers Energy's five-year, $5.4
billion Electric Distribution Infrastructure Investment Plan
(EDIIP) is a blueprint for serving Michigan today and innovating to meet the
challenges of the coming decades. Investments such as trimming
trees, replacing poles and wires and upgrading substations and
key equipment are top priorities, especially with climate change
causing more frequent and severe weather events. The company plans
to invest roughly $1
billion annually to upgrade the power grid and improve
reliability and resiliency through 2025. Consumers
Energy is also bringing its distribution system into the
21st century with smart meters, sensors and
automation devices working together to serve customers and provide
enhanced reliability and efficiency.
Other major components in the rate change request include:
- Making it easier for residential customers to purchase and
install an electric vehicle charger and provide other EV
incentives;
- Expanding a proposed economic development rate which would help
attract new business and encourage existing businesses to expand
and grow jobs in the Great Lakes State;
- Increasing clean energy investments, including doubling the
size of its distributed generation program which would bring more
solar energy to Michigan;
- Expanding demand response programs that help customers save
money and reduce energy waste by using electricity at optimal
times; and
- Support the purchase of the Covert Generating Station, a
cleaner, highly-efficient, 1,176-megawatt natural gas-fired power
plant in Van Buren County.
"To protect Michigan's
environment for future generations, we have proposed to eliminate
coal as a fuel source for electricity by 2025 – but this plan will
take every ounce of effort to ensure we can reach this goal while
making sure electricity is more reliable and affordable for all,"
added Packard. "Additionally, we are focused on growing businesses
here in Michigan and want to get
ahead of the global marketplace to attract and retain jobs which
requires competitive electric rates for our largest
job-creators."
The final impact on customer bills will not be determined until
the MPSC makes its decision in early 2023. If the plan is approved
as proposed, an average household will see its electric bill
increase by about $7.50 per month.
Through our reliability plan, we plan to reduce the average length
of time that customers are without power by nearly 15% from 2020 to
2025.
Additionally, to help support those customers struggling, in
January 2022, Consumers Energy
contributed $3.5 million to establish
a new percent of income payment program pilot to help 1,500
low-income customers beginning in October
2022. The Company also contributed this winter $1 million to United Way of Jackson County and TrueNorth Community
Services, two Michigan nonprofits
with long histories of partnering with the Company to assist
customers who are having trouble paying their energy bills.
Consumers Energy, Michigan's
largest energy provider, is the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy
(NYSE: CMS), providing natural gas and/or electricity to 6.8
million of the state's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower
Peninsula counties.
For more information about Consumers Energy, go to
ConsumersEnergy.com.
Check out Consumers Energy on Social
Media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/consumersenergymichigan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/consumersenergy
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/consumersenergy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/consumersenergy
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SOURCE Consumers Energy