Consumers Energy expands aid for Michigan Home Heating Credit, cites reliability investments

Consumers Energy steps up customer aid for Michigan Home Heating Credit

Consumers Energy is intensifying outreach to help customers claim the Michigan Home Heating Credit (MI-1040CR-7) after a record February cold snap drives higher bills. The company is identifying the households most affected by the extreme weather and planning direct contact to connect people to immediate financial help, practical energy-saving guidance and year‑round assistance, senior vice president and chief customer and growth officer Lauren Snyder says.

The utility highlights that the state credit provides an average benefit of nearly $200 and offers dollars today to households with income at or below 110% of the federal poverty level (about $35,365 for a family of four). Consumers Energy stresses that customers do not need to file taxes to receive the credit and can get faster access by calling 2-1-1, which links callers to free tax preparation through Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites.

Alongside outreach, Consumers Energy directs affected customers to its assistance portal and is mobilising community partners, providing $5 million to 11 nonprofits that help people manage energy bills. The company frames the effort as a coordinated response so vulnerable households can stay warm, reduce future costs and access community resources that amplify the impact of direct payments and targeted energy‑saving measures. ConsumersEnergy.com/assistance offers details on programs and eligibility.

Reliability work reduces customer impacts despite severe weather

Consumers Energy says about 80% of recent customer rate increases fund reliability improvements and that crews complete thousands of projects under its Reliability Roadmap to strengthen the electric system. The company reports nearly 2,700 distribution reliability projects, three new substations, seven fractionalization projects, installation of more than 12,000 line sensors and inspection of 26,069 miles of power lines using crews, helicopters and drones.

Executives note the intensified work pays off: despite a 20% increase in weather‑driven outage events this season, investments reduce customer impacts by 130,000 outages and improved storm forecasting and planning generate about $15 million in operational savings. Consumers Energy uses automated rerouting technology, new reclosers and ATR loops to limit outage length, and says preventative maintenance is central to avoiding higher long‑term costs for customers.