By: Jordan Batterbee
Reliability is at the core of everything we do at Consumers Energy. It’s our goal to keep the power on for Michigan homes and businesses as much as possible. If wind, ice or snow threaten your service, our field crews are on standby to deploy and resolve issues as quickly as they can. Similarly, if the threat to your service is extreme energy demand, there’s a crew of people ready to help relieve some of the strain on the energy system to help keep others in their community up and running. These are the participants of the Consumers Energy Demand Response Program.
How Demand Response Works
When the demand for energy becomes unusually high, as it can when extreme heat has customers reaching for the thermostat, we call upon our Demand Response participants to temporarily reduce their energy use to support reliability and affordability. This can include adjusting HVAC settings, turning off lighting in non-essential areas and postponing operations that are not time-sensitive to a time when temperatures are milder. In return, these businesses earn incentives that offset their annual energy costs and boost their bottom lines.
Participation and Results
In 2023, Demand Response Program participants avoided enough energy demand to match the annual output of a small power plant. Their commitment to reduce their use has helped communities across Michigan stay safe during extreme temperatures and helped avoid the need to turn to more costly energy sources to meet demand.
At the end of the 2023 Demand Response season (May-September), we awarded our participants over $7.3 million in incentives to recognize their commitment to something bigger — for their businesses and for Michigan.
Starting in 2025, the program is expanding to run year-round for more incentives, more energy savings and even more support for our communities when temperature extremes loom in the forecast. With this expanded opportunity in play, we look forward to welcoming even more businesses into the program.
Getting Involved at Home
While the Demand Response Program is designed for businesses, there are other opportunities for
interested customers to impact reliability from home and earn some incentives of their own. Much like Demand Response, our Smart Thermostat Program calls upon customers to reduce energy use during extreme summer temperatures. Your willingness to adjust a few degrees for a few hours earns you incentives up front, and at the end of each summer — even if an extreme temperature event never happens.
As 2024 winds down, we’re grateful for the community-minded businesses that are part of the Demand Response Program. Whatever Mother Nature has in store for Michiganders in 2025, you can count on us and these hometown partners to work together for a more reliable, more sustainable energy future.
