Consumers Energy Clearing Over 7,000 Miles of Trees Near Power Lines This Year as Part of Reliability Roadmap

Rhea-AI Summary

Consumers Energy (CMS) is intensifying its efforts to enhance power reliability by clearing trees along over 7,000 miles of power lines in 2024. This initiative is part of the company's Reliability Roadmap, aimed at reducing outages and improving service. The strategy involves:

1. Prioritizing circuits prone to vegetation-related outages
2. Implementing a seven-year plan for tree clearing across high and low-voltage lines
3. Projecting to maintain the 7,000+ miles per year clearing rate

This aggressive approach, started three years ago, is a key component of Consumers Energy's goal to reduce power outages and restore service within 24 hours, regardless of circumstances. The company serves 6.8 million Michigan residents and emphasizes the critical role of forestry work in improving electric service reliability.

Positive

• Clearing trees along 7,000+ miles of power lines annually to improve reliability
• Implementation of a strategic Reliability Roadmap to combat severe weather and reduce outages
• Goal to restore power to all customers within 24 hours, regardless of situation

Negative

• None.

JACKSON, Mich., July 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers Energy will clear and remove trees along over 7,000 miles of power lines this year, part of a stepped-up commitment to protect electrical equipment from Mother Nature and reduce outages through the company's Reliability Roadmap.

"Line clearing is some of the most visible work that Consumers Energy does every day, but it's sometimes underappreciated as a cornerstone of our commitment to keeping the lights on for customers," said Chris Laird, Consumers Energy's vice president of electric operations. "We're doing more work today – and we're being more strategic about that work – than in the past, all to better serve our customers who count on us."

Three years ago, Consumers Energy started a more aggressive effort to trim trees. Today, the company identifies electrical circuits where trees and vegetation most often lead to power outages and prioritizes them. That's part of an effort to clear trees and limbs across high- and low-voltage power lines over seven years.

This year, Consumers Energy plans to do forestry work on over 7,000 miles of lines, with projections to do more than 7,000 miles a year going forward.

Video: On the job with a Consumers Energy forestry team member 

Line clearing is one of several tactics Consumers Energy employs as it carries out the Reliability Roadmap it laid out for customers last year. The company's long-term blueprint aims to combat more severe weather with upgrades in equipment, strategy and technology – all with the goal of reducing the number of power outages and restoring power to all customers in 24 hours or less, no matter the situation.

"We have hundreds of Consumers Energy coworkers and Michigan contractors who do this important work, not just in the busy summer months but throughout the year," Laird said. "It's important that people understand the relationship between our forestry team's work and the improvements in electric service that should be so important to everyone in our state."

People can learn more about Consumers Energy's efforts at ConsumersEnergy.com/forestry.

Consumers Energy is Michigan's largest energy provider, providing natural gas and/or electricity to 6.8 million of the state's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties. Consumers Energy knows job No. 1 is to keep the lights on for customers. We are committed to delivering reliable, clean and affordable energy to our customers 24/7. 

For more information about Consumers Energy, go to ConsumersEnergy.com.

Check out Consumers Energy on Social Media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/consumersenergymichigan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/consumersenergy
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/consumersenergy  
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SOURCE Consumers Energy

FAQ

How many miles of power lines will Consumers Energy (CMS) clear trees from in 2024?

Consumers Energy plans to clear trees along over 7,000 miles of power lines in 2024.

What is the main goal of Consumers Energy's (CMS) Reliability Roadmap?

The main goal is to reduce the number of power outages and restore power to all customers in 24 hours or less, regardless of the situation.

When did Consumers Energy (CMS) start its more aggressive tree trimming effort?

Consumers Energy started a more aggressive effort to trim trees three years ago, in 2021.

How many Michigan residents does Consumers Energy (CMS) serve?

Consumers Energy provides natural gas and/or electricity to 6.8 million of Michigan's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.