JACKSON, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Even as Consumers Energy and DTE wrapped up work on restoring power from Saturday’s massive wind storm, they are facing renewed criticism from a utility watchdog group.
Saturday’s windstorm featured 55 miles per hour gusts and impacted more than 160,000 customers across the lower peninsula. Severe weather swept through Michigan knocking out power along the lakeshore, moving across mid and southern Michigan Saturday morning. Winds knocked down trees, limbs, broke 192 poles, and damaged over 2,500 power lines.
Consumers Energy had over 450 crews working, including 47 mutual assistance crews.
But the Michigan League of Conservation Voters says the power outages over the weekend left more Michiganders in the dark than even southern states ravaged by deadly tornadoes. They say that highlights “the failures of DTE and Consumers Energy to maintain our state’s energy system over the years. It also again underscores the frustrating reality that Michiganders pay the highest rates in the Midwest for the worst service in the Great Lakes region.”
The group says it has repeatedly called since last summer for a statewide investigation into utility reliability, as well as a moratorium on any electric rate increase until DTE and Consumers Energy are held accountable.
Bob Allison, deputy director for the group, says in the last five years, DTE Energy has increased rates $775 million with little improvements to service, while Consumers Energy has requested a $225 million rate increase.
