Overhead or Underground – Delivering the Energy You Need

We’ve been digging up dirt in Allegan County.  

No…not that kind of dirt. Our crews have been hard at work breaking ground to bury four miles of electric lines by the end of 2024 – and it’s resulting in more reliable electric service for the 15,000 people who call the community home.  

Allegan County Commissioner Scott Beltman said Consumers Energy has been thoughtful and engaged, working to improve electric service in the community – one of the fastest growing in the state. 

“In order for us to continue growing, we need reliable power,” Beltman said. “Consumers Energy is really stepping up to the plate to make (our county) reliable for our residents to live and prosper here.” 

The Allegan County project is slated to bury overhead power lines along Monroe Road between 36th and 39th Streets and along 39th Street to Lake Allegan. During this time, customers may experience brief power interruptions and are asked to slow down and go around Consumers Energy crews in the area. 

The goal of undergrounding is to ensure our energy infrastructure can better withstand threats from falling trees and severe weather.  

It’s part of our Reliability Roadmap – a blueprint for serving Michigan, working toward two goals: 1. To restore power to all customers in 24 hours, even after severe storms, and 2. That no more than 100,000 customers will lose power at a time. 

Sean Schrumpf, underground lineworker in charge, said the Allegan underground project has presented challenges, including dry soil conditions.  

“Anytime you go underground, you don’t know what to expect until you get in,” he said. “It’s challenging terrain even during blue sky days. But we have a job to do, and that’s keeping the lights on here in Allegan.” 

And Allegan isn’t the only community to go underground. This year, we’ll bury 10 miles of overhead power lines across six counties.  

Underground lines currently make up about 15 percent of our electric system. Most are in subdivisions and areas with high population density. Our has a goal to bury over 1,000 miles of line in the next five years. 

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