Northern Michigan power outages: Crews target Tuesday restoration for most

GAYLORD, MI — Consumers Energy officials said crews by Tuesday, April 1, expect to restore power to most Northern Michigan households knocked off the energy grid by severe weather this weekend.

The communities hit hardest could see power restored as late as Wednesday, April 2, Consumers Energy officials said.

With more severe weather predicted Sunday, March 30, Consumers Energy crews plan to “pre-stage” operations near communities vulnerable to additional outages, officials said.

Over 600 Consumers Energy crews and contractors will work to restore power, officials said.

“The safety and comfort of our customers is our top priority today, especially as we brace for more severe weather,” Norm Kapala, vice president of generation operations for Consumers Energy, said in a statement. “Mother Nature has thrown a tremendous challenge at Michigan, and we’re determined to respond, to get the lights back on and to help so many communities recover.”

Customers can check ConsumersEnergy.com/outagemap for updates on outages related to Consumers Energy.

“We appreciate the patience of our customers and applaud the hard work of our coworkers, police and fire officials, and others who are helping these communities through a difficult day,” Kapala said. “We encourage people to turn to our website, our outage map and social media channels for updates, or to call 911 if they face an immediate need.”

While a significant ice storm has made a mess in Northern Michigan and parts of the Upper Peninsula — downed trees, power lines, and power outages topping 90,000 — the threat for severe weather is looming for the bottom half of the Lower Peninsula, too.

Up to an inch of ice is coating trees and roadways and power lines in some areas.

The most heavily impacted area stretches from Grayling and Oscoda up to Gaylord, Alpena and Rogers City, and over to Petoskey and Charlevoix, up to the Mackinac Bridge in the Lower Peninsula.

Local police and sheriff’s officials are warning people to stay off the roads, to stay home, and to go to local warming centers if they are without power. Temperatures are expected to drop Monday, exacerbating issues for those without power.

Public safety officials have provided locations of shelters for residents impacted by the widespread ice storm.