March 2025 left us with a once in a lifetime ice storm that will forever live in Northern Michigan lore.
Crew members said they’ve never encountered anything like it, from poles and trees snapped like toothpicks to substations frozen solid. The stories of heroism will be shared for decades to come. And the countless lineworkers, tree trimmers and dispatchers who went above and beyond to care for their neighbors will be remembered. 
Mullett Township, in Cheboygan County, was one of the areas hit hardest by the storm. And our crews were prepped and ready to respond after Mother Nature struck.
The quaint community with just over 1,200 residents and no traffic lights completely lost power. Despite many challenges, our crews, tree trimmers and many others, worked alongside the community and the National Guard to restore power as quickly and safely as possible.
‘Time of Need’
“The Consumers Energy crews did a tremendous job working with our first responders in helping us during our time of need,” said Laz Surabian, township supervisor. “They had to deal with some difficult situations where they repaired an area and then had to go back and repair it because an iced tree branch broke off and destroyed their previous repair work. They were repairing repairs, which had to be frustrating. But they didn’t let it get them down; they calmly and safely went about their work. They were pleasant from the first day they showed up. Nothing but class.”
First responders and the National Guard helped remove debris by the ton, dipped in heavy ice, so crews could navigate toward the power lines to safely restore them.
Andy Snider, executive director of electric operations, said it took everyone pulling together to manage the chaos.
Thank You
“On behalf of Consumers Energy and all of our team members, I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our customers in all the communities in Northern Michigan for assisting us and welcoming us during this once in a lifetime storm,” Snider said.
Crew members were thankful for the customers asking about their personal safety despite facing difficult times of their own.
“My experiences with our customers were nothing but great,” said Tom Conrad, a lineworker out of Flint, who has worked 20 years with the company. “People understood the various challenges we faced to restore their power. It’s been heartwarming to see customers concerned about our safety. It’s something I will always remember.”
Surabian said he returns the thanks right back to Consumers Energy and the crews working around the clock. 
Every Step of the Way
Township officials and first responders were alerted by our leaders to the seriousness of the weather coming their way well before the storm hit, he said.
“We appreciated the knowledge so we could brace for it,” said Surabian. “They were very accommodating in helping us every step of the way.”
He added that he and his family members have never seen a storm so intense; it truly encapsulated the community in ice.
“Sometimes things just happen under Mother Nature’s watch and nobody is to blame,” Surabian said. “And everyone did the best they could during an unusual and devastating situation. That’s what happened here. But hopefully this is a generational storm that we never see again.”
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