The lights are slowly but surely turning back on for Michiganders as power restoration efforts continue following severe thunderstorms and tornadoes that struck central and southeast lower Michigan earlier this week. Over 400,000 customers of DTE Energy and Consumers Energy reported power outages in the aftermath of the storms.
However, as of 3:45 pm on Saturday, the number of affected customers has been reduced to just over 200,000 for both DTE and Consumers Energy combined. DTE’s outage map indicates that while 108,350 customers are still without power, more than half of the affected customers have had their power restored. According to a storm update on the map, DTE expects to have all storm-related outages restored by the end of Sunday.
Consumers Energy also has a significant number of customers awaiting power restoration. On Saturday morning, their outage map showed that 103,977 customers were still affected, following nearly 200,000 customers without power on Friday. In order to expedite the restoration process, crews from as far away as Pennsylvania, Alabama, and Kentucky are working 16-hour shifts. Consumers Energy aims to restore all outages by the end of Sunday, as stated in a news release from the company.
In addition to their restoration efforts, Consumers Energy will be providing a free community dinner from 4-6 pm at the Alpine Township Office in Comstock Park, offering support and assistance to those affected by the power outages.
Both DTE Energy and Consumers Energy continue to emphasize the importance of safety during this time. They urge people to stay at least 25 feet away from downed power lines and to assume that any downed line is live and dangerous. If anyone comes across unguarded downed lines, they should immediately call 911 and report it to Consumers Energy at 800-477-5050.
As the power restoration efforts progress, Michiganders can stay updated on their power status by referring to the Michigan power outage map and following the instructions provided. The companies are working diligently to bring back normalcy to the affected areas and ensure the safety and well-being of their customers.
What are some key challenges faced by power utility providers in Michigan during the aftermath of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes?
Michiganders can now breathe a sigh of relief as power restoration efforts continue in the aftermath of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes that hit central and southeast lower Michigan earlier this week. Over 400,000 customers served by DTE Energy and Consumers Energy reported power outages due to the storms. However, the situation is gradually improving as power is being restored.
Good to hear that the power restoration is underway! Hopefully, Michigan will recover quickly from the storm damage.
Yes, it’s great to see that progress is being made. Hopefully, everyone affected can get their power restored soon and begin to recover from the storm’s impact.