Consumers Energy boosts winter aid and reliability efforts after record cold raises heating bills

Winter relief push: Consumers Energy steps up help for customers hit by cold snap

Consumers Energy is intensifying outreach to customers after a record cold snap drives higher heating bills, prioritizing immediate financial help and practical energy-saving guidance. The Jackson, Michigan-based utility is steering eligible households toward the Michigan Home Heating Credit (MI-1040CR-7), a state program that pays an average benefit of nearly $200 and provides current dollars to people with incomes at or below 110% of the federal poverty level (about $35,365 for a family of four). The company notes that customers do not need to file taxes to receive the credit and can access free tax preparation through Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites by calling 2-1-1.

Consumers Energy is identifying customers most affected by the cold and planning direct outreach to help them make payments, reduce energy use and access community resources. Lauren Snyder, senior vice president and chief customer and growth officer, says the company prioritizes “connecting customers to dollars and resources now and year‑round.” To amplify local relief, Consumers Energy is directing people to ConsumersEnergy.com/assistance and coordinating with community partners so households facing hardship can draw on both immediate aid and ongoing support.

In addition to referral efforts, Consumers Energy is providing $5 million in contributions to 11 nonprofit organizations that are actively helping people with energy bills and related needs. The utility emphasizes that its combined strategy—targeted outreach, funding for community organizations, and practical conservation advice—aims to keep vulnerable households warm now while lowering future costs. The company serves natural gas and/or electricity to 6.8 million of Michigan’s roughly 10 million residents and underscores that customers do not have to face hardship alone.

Reliability investments cut outage impact

Consumers Energy is also reporting progress under its Reliability Roadmap as it balances customer assistance with infrastructure spending. The company says 80% of customer rate increases over the past five years fund reliability improvements; crews completed thousands of projects in 2025, including nearly 2,700 distribution reliability projects, three new substations, seven grid fractionalization projects, and installation of more than 32,000 utility poles.

Executives say those investments reduce outage impacts even as Michigan faces more extreme weather. Despite a 20% rise in weather‑driven outage events, the utility reports 130,000 fewer customer outages and $15 million in savings from improved storm forecasting and more efficient crew deployment, supported by sensors, drones, automated reclosers and other preventative measures.