Consumers Energy Uses Smart Technology to Eliminate Over 72,000 Power Outages This Year

Rhea-AI Summary

Consumers Energy has successfully prevented over 72,000 power outages in 2024 through the implementation of smart technology called automatic transfer reclosers (ATRs). These devices, functioning like traffic lights, automatically detect and limit power outages, saving customers more than 350,000 hours of potential outage time. The company has deployed nearly 550 ATRs across Michigan and plans to install over 100 more this year as part of its Reliability Roadmap. The initiative aims to limit storm-related outages to 100,000 customers and restore power within 24 hours.

Positive

• Prevented 72,000+ power outages in 2024
• Saved customers over 350,000 hours of potential outage time
• Deployed 550 ATRs across Michigan with 100 more planned
• Serves 6.8 million of Michigan's 10 million residents

Negative

• None.

Insights

Utility Infrastructure Analyst

The implementation of Automatic Transfer Reclosers (ATRs) represents a significant operational improvement for Consumers Energy, preventing 72,000 customer outages and saving 350,000 hours of downtime in 2024. This smart grid investment is part of a broader reliability strategy that includes installing 100+ new ATRs this year, bringing the total to nearly 550 units statewide.

The technology's impact on service reliability metrics is substantial, directly supporting the company's strategic goals of limiting major storm outages to 100,000 customers and achieving 24-hour restoration times. For investors, this infrastructure modernization indicates improved operational efficiency and reduced maintenance costs, while potentially lowering regulatory risk by meeting service quality standards.

The comprehensive Reliability Roadmap, which includes multiple technological upgrades beyond ATRs, positions CMS well for future grid resilience requirements and customer satisfaction improvements. This proactive approach to infrastructure modernization should help maintain stable regulatory relationships and support long-term rate base growth.

'Automatic Transfer Reclosers' Help Keep Lights on for Michiganders

JACKSON, Mich., Dec. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers Energy's investment in smart technology for Michigan's electric grid is paying off, keeping the lights on for over 72,000 customers who would have otherwise lost power at some point this year.

Devices known as automatic transfer reclosers, or ATRs, have provided this benefit to customers. They're an example of a leading-edge technology that detects a power outage remotely and, like traffic lights, automatically limits the extent of a power outage.

Ultimately, fewer customers are affected when things go wrong. So far in 2024, Consumers Energy projects those 72,000-plus customers would have lost power for a total of over 350,000 hours.

"Consumers Energy is building a stronger grid with our Reliability Roadmap, and it's also a smarter one that will keep more people from losing power in the first place," said Greg Salisbury, Consumers Energy's vice president of electric distribution engineering. "The results that we're seeing from our ATRs and other technological tools show us that we're on the right path to better serving our friends and neighbors 24/7/365."

WATCH: How Consumers Energy's "traffic light" contains a power outage

Consumers Energy is installing over 100 ATRs across Michigan this year – it has almost 550 at work across the state now -- and plans to continue adding more in the future as part of the Reliability Roadmap. The company is trying to reach two long-term goals – ensuring no more than 100,000 customers lose power, even after the worst storms, and always restoring power in 24 hours or less.

Other tactics in the Reliability Roadmap include increased line clearing, infrared cameras, more durable iron poles, burying power lines and even a robotic dog.

Learn more: ConsumersEnergy.com/reliable.

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 number one 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
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SOURCE Consumers Energy

FAQ

How many power outages did Consumers Energy prevent in 2024?

Consumers Energy prevented over 72,000 power outages in 2024 using automatic transfer reclosers (ATRs) technology.

What are the reliability goals of Consumers Energy's Roadmap?

Consumers Energy aims to limit storm-related outages to 100,000 customers and restore power within 24 hours or less.

How many ATRs does Consumers Energy have installed in Michigan?

Consumers Energy has almost 550 ATRs installed across Michigan and plans to add over 100 more this year.

How many hours of potential outage time did Consumers Energy save in 2024?

Consumers Energy saved customers more than 350,000 hours of potential outage time in 2024 through their ATR technology.