JACKSON,
Mich., July 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers
Energy will clear and remove trees along over 7,000 miles of power
lines this year, part of a stepped-up commitment to protect
electrical equipment from Mother Nature and reduce outages through
the company's Reliability Roadmap.
"Line clearing is some of the most visible work that Consumers
Energy does every day, but it's sometimes underappreciated as a
cornerstone of our commitment to keeping the lights on for
customers," said Chris Laird,
Consumers Energy's vice president of electric operations. "We're
doing more work today – and we're being more strategic about that
work – than in the past, all to better serve our customers who
count on us."
Three years ago, Consumers Energy started a more aggressive
effort to trim trees. Today, the company identifies electrical
circuits where trees and vegetation most often lead to power
outages and prioritizes them. That's part of an effort to clear
trees and limbs across high- and low-voltage power lines over seven
years.
This year, Consumers Energy plans to do forestry work on over
7,000 miles of lines, with projections to do more than 7,000 miles
a year going forward.
Video: On the job with a Consumers Energy
forestry team member
Line clearing is one of several tactics Consumers Energy employs
as it carries out the Reliability Roadmap it laid out for customers
last year. The company's long-term blueprint aims to combat more
severe weather with upgrades in equipment, strategy and technology
– all with the goal of reducing the number of power outages and
restoring power to all customers in 24 hours or less, no matter the
situation.
"We have hundreds of Consumers Energy coworkers and Michigan contractors who do this important
work, not just in the busy summer months but throughout the year,"
Laird said. "It's important that people understand the relationship
between our forestry team's work and the improvements in electric
service that should be so important to everyone in our state."
People can learn more about Consumers Energy's efforts at
ConsumersEnergy.com/forestry.
Consumers Energy is Michigan's largest energy
provider, providing natural gas and/or electricity to 6.8 million
of the state's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula
counties. Consumers Energy knows job No. 1 is to keep the lights on
for customers. We are committed to delivering reliable, clean and
affordable energy to our customers 24/7.
For more information about Consumers Energy, go to
ConsumersEnergy.com.
Check out Consumers Energy on Social Media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/consumersenergymichigan
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SOURCE Consumers Energy