Consumer's Energy

Gas pipeline company proposes switch to crude oil transport

Rina Miller — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 02:47:37 +0000

A pipeline that supplies much of Michigan's natural gas could be shut down ... and converted to carry crude oil. That's sparked a number of concerns from business and government.

Natural gas is plentiful and cheap right now.

That's why a Texas company filed a request with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission -- or FERC -- in July to shut down 770 miles of transmission lines across several states. It would either abandon them ... or eventually use the pipes to carry crude oil.

And that could affect how much a lot of people in Michigan will pay to heat their homes and businesses.

The pipeline owned by Trunkline Gas Company crosses into Branch County from Indiana. That's where Consumers Energy connects to it ... and distributes the natural gas to 45 counties in the Lower Peninsula.

Dan Bishop is a Consumers Energy spokesman. He says Consumers depends on Trunkline for 60 percent of the gas it supplies to 1.7 million customers in Michigan.

Michigan gets federal grant to prevent damage to underground pipes, power lines

Lindsey Smith — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 21:08:30 +0000

Michigan will get $90,000 from the US Department of Transportation to help prevent damage to underground pipelines. The federal agency announced the grant today. It's granting $1.5 million total to 22 states. The money will support advertising efforts for MISS DIG.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=5zQj5Ak44yI

"The number one cause of pipeline damage is people excavating on their own property without knowing what’s underground," said Judy Palnau, a Michigan Public Service Commission spokeswoman. The MPSC applied for the grant.

Don't want a smart meter? You'll have to pay for privilege

Tracy Samilton — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 13:46:37 +0000

The state's biggest electricity provider says customers who don't want a smart meter will have to pay extra for the privilege.

Smart meters use radio signals to allow two-way communication between a customer's residence and the utility.

The meters let utilities know immediately who has lost power, among other things. The company will also be able to remotely shut off power and turn it back on.

A good day to sit next to an air conditioner in Michigan

Steve Carmody — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 22:04:25 +0000

How hot was it today?

Hot enough for Consumers Energy to smash its all-time record for electricity demand.

Another hot day without electricity for many Michiganders

The Associated Press — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 13:59:12 +0000

DETROIT (AP) - Utility workers are battling high temperatures as they work to restore electricity to tens of thousands of Michigan homes and businesses without power following thunderstorms this week.

DTE Energy said early Saturday about 45,000 of its customers were without power, mostly in Oakland and Wayne counties. Consumers Energy reported about 23,700 of its customers without power.

Most of those without electricity lost service after storms late Wednesday and Thursday. DTE says most of its customers should have power back by Saturday night.

Many Michiganders still waiting for the power to be turned back on

Steve Carmody — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 15:58:48 +0000

Nearly 150,000 Michiganders are sweating through today without electricity.

Severe storms earlier this week knocked out power to more than 400,000 Michigan utility customers.

Spokesmen for DTE and Consumers Energy say it may be late Saturday or early Sunday before all the electricity is restored.

Dan Bishop is a spokesman for Consumers Energy. He says utility crews expect to make a lot of progress today, despite having to work in temperatures around 100 degrees.

“The heat is obviously the story of the day,” says Bishop. “The most important concern for us is to make sure our crews are well hydrated and working safely.”

Consumers Energy is getting some extra help from linemen from Missouri and Indiana.

Triple digit temperatures in the forecast for parts of Michigan today

Steve Carmody — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 05:01:01 +0000

Electric utilities in Michigan are expecting to see a big spike in demand today, as temperatures are expected to climb to 100 degrees in parts of Michigan.

India-based IT company bringing jobs to Jackson

Steve Carmody — Fri, 11 May 2012 20:49:01 +0000

The city of Jackson’s economy is getting a big boost.

An India-based IT company announced today it will expand its operation in the mid-Michigan city.

HCL Technologies LLC is a global IT services company with 90 thousand employees. The training and development hub its opening in Jackson will create several hundred jobs during the next few years.

Rajeev Sawhney is a vice president with HCL. He says the training center should employ 300 people within the next two years.

"And possibly 500 people given that most of our Midwest clients have shown a lot of interest in wanting to avail of the facilities that will come out of this center in Jackson," says Sawhney.

HCL is partnering with Jackson-based Consumer Energy, which will allow the utility’s employees to receive advanced technology training.

The hundreds of new jobs will be welcome in Jackson, which like many Michigan cities has seen a long decline in job opportunities.

Consumers Energy loses round in court over refund

Steve Carmody — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:48:15 +0000

The Michigan Court of Appeals has rejected an effort by Jackson-based Consumers Energy to reverse a state order that it repay $85 million to its customers.

Consumers Energy’s customers are not getting any new money back from the utility. Consumers already repaid the $85 Million a year ago.

But the legal fight over the state’s order has continued since then.

Wind farm in Mason County taking shape despite legal challenge

Lindsey Smith — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:45:38 +0000

Consumers Energy is wrapping up the initial phase of its first wind farm. Construction of the 100 mega-watt farm began last fall. Consumers plans to have the wind farm operating by the end of this year.

The project is known as the Lake Winds Energy Park. Since construction began last fall, workers have built about half of the large bases for 58 utility sized wind turbines.

New report: 3 Michigan companies among "Dirty 30" tax avoiders

Sarah Cwiek — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:32:41 +0000

A new report says three Michigan companies spent more on lobbying than they did in corporate income taxes between 2008 and 2010.

Those companies include Michigan’s two biggest utilities, DTE and Consumers Energy. It also includes Ann Arbor-based freight hauler Con-way.

Northern Michigan dispute over wind farm may land in court

The Associated Press — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 02:28:39 +0000

A northern Michigan judge says a group opposed to a major wind farm near Lake Michigan can take its arguments to court.

Consumers Energy further than DTE in meeting renewable energy mandate

Tracy Samilton — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 23:13:44 +0000

Consumers Energy will take a big leap toward meeting the state’s renewable energy mandate next year.

State law requires utilities to get ten percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2015.

Consumers Energy spokesman Dan Bishop says the utility will build 56 wind turbines in Mason County. The project is called Lake Wind Energy Park.

Consumers Energy scraps plans to build coal plant near Bay City

Jennifer Guerra — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 22:20:18 +0000

Consumers Energy has canceled its plans to build a coal plant near Bay City. The $2 billion plant would have created 1,800 construction jobs and 100 permanent jobs.

Jeff Holyfield, a spokesman for Consumers Energy, says there two main reasons for the cancelation:

Customer demand is down "about 5 or 6 percent. Holyfield says they "don’t expect that demand to reach pre-recession marks until sometime late in 2012."
Natural gas prices are cheap, which Holyfield says makes a "new coal-fired power plant less economically attractive."

Holyfield says Consumers Energy invested about $25 million in the now scrapped coal plan.

The utility will also suspend operations at seven of its smaller coal-fired units across the state by 2015, and focus on two new wind farms it’s developing: one in west Michigan's Mason County, the other in Tuscola County in the thumb.

Consumers continues its $1.6 billion investment at its five largest coal-fired units to meet environmental regulations, which Holyfield says will create about 2,000 jobs in the state.

Temporary fix may help more low-income residents get help with their heat bills

The Associated Press — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 19:46:25 +0000

A state program that used to provide heating assistance to 95,000 low-income Michigan residents remains in limbo, but a temporary solution may be worked out this week to help more people stay warm.

Rep. Ken Horn says he's hoping a Wednesday meeting between state officials and Detroit Edison and Consumers Energy staff will lead to a fix until another way to fund the program can be found. He'd like to see the two utilities agree to turn on indigent customers' heat and keep it on through winter, then roll the unpaid bills into their next rate increase.

Michigan law forbids utility companies from shutting off heat between November 1 and March 30 to customers aged 65 and older. But others could face being disconnected if they can't pay their bills.