Tips for dealing with power outages
Here are some safety tips for dealing with power outages, from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Detroit Free Press
With a winter storm promising high winds bearing down on Michigan Sunday, Dec. 28, nearly 30,000 electric customers are without power after an ice storm hit the state.
As of 3:30 p.m. Sunday, poweroutage.com was reporting 30,826 Michigan electric customers without power, mostly in mid-Michigan.
Most of those without power were Consumers Energy customers — 21,444, according to the company’s outage map. The outages, mostly clustered between Saginaw Bay, Cadillac and Big Rapids, were reported Saturday and Sunday, according to the Consumers outage map.
On Friday, Dec. 26, an ice storm swept through Michigan, coating trees and other surfaces with up to 0.16 of an inch of ice.
Consumers Energy said nearly 90,000 customers were affected by the Friday ice storm and 500 crews were dispatched to work on power restoration. The company added that it is preparing for high winds from the latest storm and plans to mobilize 500 power crews Sunday night.
The Sunday night storm is expected to drop up to 2 feet of snow in parts of the U.P. while hitting all of Michigan with winds up to 50 mph — possibly stronger.
“Strong to Damaging wind gusts upwards of 55 mph possible tomorrow,” the National Weather Service in Grand Rapids said on X on Dec. 28. “These winds will bring snow, blowing and drifting snow with visibilities down to 1/4 mile at times. Best time is 3 AM to 6 AM. Downed tree limbs along with scattered power outages are possible.”
Some of the largest individual outages still underway since Friday’s ice storm are located west of Clare and along or south of U.S. 10. Another outage affecting more than 1,200 customers affects an area southeast of Big Rapids while a number of smaller outages were scattered throughout Mecosta, Midland, Osceola, Clare, Isabella, Wexford and Gladwin counties..
Mecosta County was most heavily affected with 8,267 Consumers Energy customers without power — 33% of the county.
Many of the Consumers outages, according to the map, are attributed to equipment issues. Some say trees are the cause. Restoration times are not listed.
DTE reported 5,655 customers out, with 3,639 affected in Oakland County.
While it has fewer customers without power (3,680), HomeWorks Tri-County Electric had the highest percentage of customers affected at 13.3% without power.
Here’s a look at power outages on Sunday afternoon, and how you can check and report problems.
Where are the outages now?
Counties in Michigan with the most power outages as of 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 28:
DTE power outage map
Use DTE Energy’s power outage map here.
DTE reminds folks to “please be safe and remember to stay at least 25 feet from any downed power lines — assume they are live and dangerous.”
Report any outage or downed line here.
Consumers Energy power outage map
Use Consumers Energy’s power outage map here. You can report downed power lines by calling 800-477-5050.
Indiana Michigan Power outage map
Use Indiana Michigan Power’s power outage map here. A small number of southwest Michigan residents, near the Indiana border, use this service. For help, call 800-311-4634.
Great Lakes Power outage map
Use Great Lakes Power’s power outage map here. To report an outage, call 888-485-2537.
Midwest Energy Cooperative power outage map
Use Midwest Energy Cooperative’s power outage map here. A small number of southwest Michigan residents, including near Kalamazoo, use this service. For help, call 800-492-5989.
Lansing Board of Water and Light power outage map
Use Lansing Board of Water and Light’s power outage map here. A small number of customers in the Lansing area use this service. To report an outage, call 877-295-5001 or go to its website.
Wisconsin Electric Power Company power outage map
Use Wisconsin Electric Power Company’s outage map here. Several customers in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula use the service. Report power outages and downed wires by calling 800-662-4797.
Lansing Board of Water and Light power outage map
Use Presque Isle Electric & Gas Cooperative’s outage map here. Several customers in the northeast Lower Peninsula use the service. Report power outages and downed wires by calling 800-423-6634 or 989-733-8515.
Is your service not listed here?
Use poweroutage.us to see other Michigan services and whether there are updates in your area.
