The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded Consumers Energy in Jackson $100 million to strengthen Michigan’s electric grid.
This commitment represents the next step in bolstering the company’s reliability roadmap plan to reduce the number and length of power outages across the state. It wasn’t clear why the company wouldn’t finance the work on their own, rather than utilize tax dollars.
Consumers Energy will use the federal funding to strengthen the backbone of its electric system in disadvantaged communities – where the most investment is needed to limit outages. The company will replace more poles and equipment, plus add the latest technology to detect and respond to outages.
“Building a stronger grid to withstand Michigan’s fiercest weather is our top priority,” says Tonya Berry, senior vice president of transformation and engineering for Consumers Energy. “We are thrilled the Department of Energy recognizes and is willing to support our plan to keep the lights on 24/7 for our nearly 2 million customers. We consider this a $100 million down payment on our Reliability Roadmap.”
Consumers Energy revealed its reliability roadmap. The blueprint to strengthen Michigan’s electric grid includes two long-term goals:
- No customer will be without power for more than 24 hours.
- No outage will affect more than 100,000 customers.
The new federal funding will help Consumers Energy to accelerate that long-term plan and ultimately reduce costs to customers. The funds come through the Grid Resilience Utility and Industry Grants, which support the modernization of the electric grid to reduce the impact of extreme weather. Consumers Energy will match the spending with another $100 million once the grant is finalized and as the work is done over time.
The importance of the new funding to support equity and environmental justice, which is a stated goal of the Reliability Roadmap.
“Consumers Energy has made a commitment that all communities will experience the benefits of our work to better serve Michigan and participate in the clean energy transformation,” says Berry. “We are excited to communicate with leaders and stakeholders in communities that will most directly see the results of our efforts.”
Learn more about the Reliability Roadmap at ConsumersEnergy.com/reliable.
