JACKSON,
Mich., July 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers
Energy received approval today on a $170
million investment to modernize Michigan's natural gas system, making it even
more safe, clean, reliable and affordable for customers.
The investments are part of the company's Natural Gas Delivery
Plan, a 10-year, $11 billion
blueprint that includes upgrading transmission infrastructure,
transforming compression and storage operations and replacing aging
distribution pipes.
"This investment directly supports a modern natural gas system
by replacing pipes dating to the 1940s to ensure safe delivery of
our customers need to heat their homes and businesses," said
Chris Fultz, Consumers Energy's vice
president of gas operations. "A more reliable system keeps homes
cozy in the winter, and puts warm, home cooked meals on the table
for Michigan families. These
critical upgrades will also help protect the environment by
reducing emissions of methane, a greenhouse gas more potent than
carbon dioxide."
Major components of Consumers Energy's plan include:
- Reliability: Through our Natural Gas Delivery Plan,
Consumers Energy is investing $1
billion annually to modernize the system — a commitment we
plan to continue in the coming decade. The upgrades we're
completing to our natural gas transmission, distribution and
storage system are creating hundreds of construction jobs each
year.
- Affordability: We continue to shield customers from
price volatility of the market with the nation's largest
underground storage system, which allows us to buy large amounts of
natural gas when it's cheapest and pass those savings along to
customers during the winter when demand is highest. This year,
Consumers Energy also has committed nearly $12 million in new assistance to help
Michiganders stay safe and warm in their homes, including
$3.5 million for a pilot program for
vulnerable households. People who are struggling with energy bills
should call 2-1-1, a free service that connects people with
nonprofit agencies in communities across the state.
- Clean Energy Transformation: Consumers Energy is
committed to leading Michigan's
decarbonization efforts as the role of natural gas evolves in the
coming years such as investing in our natural gas system to enhance
safety and reliability and continue reducing our greenhouse gas
emissions and exploring the use of renewable natural gas (RNG) and
other emerging technologies to help our customers and suppliers
reduce their emissions. Additionally, we're looking beyond our own
operations to help customers reduce greenhouse gas emissions from
natural gas sources.
"While prices are increasing due to a variety of global economic
factors, Consumers Energy is working to minimize the impact for our
customers and Michigan," added
Fultz. "We are here for customers with energy efficiency and
customer assistance programs to ensure all customers have the
energy they need this winter."
Natural gas rates for Consumers Energy customers have not
changed since October 2020. With
today's ruling, changes to customer bills will take effect in
October 2022. In a 12-month period
through March 2022, the price
Consumers Energy residential customers paid for natural gas was 23%
less than the national average.
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
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/consumers-energy-announces-major-new-investment-in-natural-gas-system-improves-reliability-for-customers-301582622.html
SOURCE Consumers Energy