In 2024, Consumers Energy in Michigan is set to invest nearly $24 million in deploying over 3,000 line sensors and 100 automatic transfer reclosers (ATRs) as part of their Reliability Roadmap. The aim of this commitment is to improve grid reliability and restore power within 24 hours or less for their approximately 2 million customers.
This year marks a record number of smart devices being implemented by Consumers Energy in a single year. Chris Laird, vice president of electric operations at Consumers Energy, highlighted the importance of new technology in improving grid reliability for their customers. ATRs have proven to be effective in preventing hundreds of thousands of outages in recent years by automatically isolating issues and rerouting power. Line sensors are also crucial in predicting grid problems and notifying crews promptly, which helps prevent outages before they happen.
Consumers Energy serves over 6.8 million residents with natural gas and electricity services across Michigan, making it the state’s largest energy provider. The deployment of smart technology devices is a key component of their larger Reliability Roadmap, which aims to upgrade and strengthen the electric grid in the coming years. Through these investments, Consumers Energy hopes to enhance reliability and continue providing uninterrupted service to homes and businesses across the state.
