Consumers Energy Shields Michigan Customers from Extreme Weather

Company's reliability improvements reduced outages by 130,000 despite record storms in 2025.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 6:47am

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Consumers Energy, Michigan's largest energy provider, delivered meaningful reliability improvements for nearly 2 million homes and businesses in 2025 even as the state faced some of the harshest and most destructive weather in generations. Despite a 20% increase in weather-driven outage events, the company's proactive work reduced customer impacts by 130,000 outages and generated $15 million in savings through enhanced storm forecasting and planning.

Why it matters

Consumers Energy's performance highlights the impact of its ongoing investments in grid modernization and storm response through the Reliability Roadmap, which has helped the company deliver reliable service to customers during increasingly extreme weather events driven by climate change.

The details

In 2025, Michigan faced record-breaking weather, including two major ice storms, 33 confirmed tornadoes, and seven thunderstorm-related wind gusts over 75 mph. Even with this significantly tougher weather, Consumers Energy delivered stronger reliability compared to before launching the Reliability Roadmap in 2023. The company accelerated grid-modernization efforts, installed more smart-grid automation, used advanced inspection tools, and strengthened infrastructure to withstand severe conditions.

  • In late March 2025, Michigan experienced its worst ice storm since 1922.
  • In 2025, Michigan recorded 33 confirmed tornadoes, tying 1973 for the third-highest total on record.
  • In 2025, seven thunderstorm-related wind gusts over 75 mph were reported, the greatest number of such extreme wind reports in two decades.

The players

Consumers Energy

Michigan's largest energy provider, delivering natural gas and/or electricity to 6.8 million of the state's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.

Greg Salisbury

Senior vice president and president of electric distribution at Consumers Energy.

Norm Kapala

Vice president of grid operations restoration and work management at Consumers Energy.

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What they’re saying

“Recently, extreme weather has tried to test our grid in unprecedented ways. Even with some of the most intense ice, wind and tornado activity we've ever seen - and the extreme cold and heavy snow that has hit Michigan already this year - our system held strong. Our continued investments and our commitment to being prepared and ready to respond helped us deliver real, lasting progress for our customers when they needed it most.”

— Greg Salisbury, Senior vice president and president of electric distribution

“These results reflect a year of learning, discipline and preparation. Our teams refined our storm planning approach, strengthened our forecasting tools and streamlined our response strategy. That work is improving reliability and importantly, it's also saving customers money. It reinforces a simple truth: victory favors the prepared. When we plan, our customers benefit twice with fewer outages and lower costs.”

— Norm Kapala, Vice president of grid operations restoration and work management

What’s next

Consumers Energy remains focused on its long-term reliability goals, including reducing outages during severe weather and restoring power to all customers within 24 hours.

The takeaway

Consumers Energy's performance during the record-breaking weather in 2025 demonstrates the value of its ongoing investments in grid modernization and storm response, which have helped the company deliver reliable service to customers even as Michigan faces increasingly extreme climate-driven weather events.