Reliability Roadmap By the Numbers: Consumers Energy Finishing 1,350 Projects in 2024 to Keep the Lights On

Consumers Energy, Michigan's largest utility, is making significant strides in its $9 billion, five-year Reliability Roadmap plan, with 1,350 projects completed in 2024. This ambitious initiative aims to enhance grid resilience and reduce power outages, benefiting the utility's 1.8 million customers. By burying power lines, increasing tree trimming, and modernizing the grid, Consumers Energy is committed to delivering a stronger and more reliable electric system.

The utility's goal is to have no more than 100,000 customers experience an outage from any severe weather event and to restore power within 24 hours for all affected customers. To achieve this, Consumers Energy plans to bury 5,000 miles of power lines over five years, with 1,000 miles targeted for annual completion. The 1,350 projects in 2024 represent a significant step towards this goal.

Burying power lines is a costly but effective measure to improve grid reliability. According to a study by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, the average cost of undergrounding a power line is around $1 million per mile. For Consumers Energy's 5,000-mile target, the total cost could reach $5 billion. However, the potential savings from avoided outages and improved reliability justify this investment.



The utility is also increasing tree trimming efforts along 7,000 miles of power lines each year. This proactive approach helps prevent outages caused by fallen trees and branches. Additionally, Consumers Energy is modernizing the grid through investments in technology such as automatic transfer reclosers and working to harden the grid through continued inspection and accelerated infrastructure upgrades.

The Reliability Roadmap comes in response to increased public and regulatory criticism of the state's electric reliability. In August 2023, powerful storms caused lengthy power outages for roughly 200,000 customers, some of whom were without power for more than four days. The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) has since proposed financial penalties for utilities with lengthy and repeated outages.

Consumers Energy's commitment to improving reliability is evident in its hiring of nearly 100 workers to implement undergrounding efforts and more than 350 new apprentices training as journeymen linemen. The utility is also preparing for a future with increased adoption of electric vehicles, ensuring that its grid can support this transformation.

The 1,350 projects completed in 2024 are a testament to Consumers Energy's dedication to enhancing grid resilience and reducing power outages. By investing in its Reliability Roadmap, the utility is not only addressing public and regulatory concerns but also positioning itself to meet the evolving energy needs of its customers.