Consumers Energy burying power lines near Standish, Mich.

(UI) — Consumers Energy crews have begun the second week of a project to bury two miles of power lines near Standish, aiming to improve the region’s electric grid by protecting lines from falling trees and severe weather.

“Consumers Energy has made a commitment to keeping the lights on more consistently with our Reliability Roadmap, and work like this shows how we can make that happen,” said Chris Laird, vice president of electric operations. “When we bury power lines, we can significantly reduce the impact of storms, heavy snow, ice and even tornadoes that can cause outages. We know this work will provide a clear benefit to homes and businesses in the area.”

The project, running through June and most of July, involves burying overhead power lines along Palmer Road, east from City Limits Road. Customers along the route will experience brief power interruptions as work is completed. Laird urged motorists to slow down and avoid parked Consumers Energy trucks.

Consumers Energy plans to bury more power lines statewide, investing $3.7 million to bury 10 miles of lines over the next year. Currently, about 15 percent of their electric system is underground, primarily in high-density areas. The company aims to bury over 1,000 miles of lines in the next five years.

The Reliability Roadmap is Consumers Energy’s plan to enhance Michigan's electric service, with goals to restore power within 24 hours after severe storms and limit outages to fewer than 100,000 customers at a time.

Consumers Energy is Michigan’s largest energy provider, serving 6.8 million residents in the Lower Peninsula with natural gas and electricity. The company is dedicated to delivering reliable, clean, and affordable energy 24/7.

Related News

From Archive

• Most Read
• Most Commented