By: Adina Ferguson

No doubt about it, winter is coming. And we don’t mean another Game of Thrones spinoff. Michigan winters are like a two-headed dragon: beautiful and sometimes brutal. But no matter which one makes its presence felt, as brisk temps soon blanket the region, our goal remains to keep you warm and your lights on during Mother Nature’s finest hour. So, how do we make this happen? You can count on us to be prepared, like that family member who (never) overpacks. 

All-season reliability with undergrounding 

Strengthening the grid to safely power your home is our No. 1 priority. And one way we’re protecting our electric infrastructure from winter’s wrath is with undergrounding.  

Moving overhead power lines underground keeps your energy safe and reliable when you need it most. Heavy snowfall, winds, fallen tree branches and car collisions along icy roads can cause damage to power lines, resulting in power outages.  

That’s why we’re delivering on our promise to bury 10 miles of power lines this year as part of the Reliability Roadmap. For all you runners, consider it the halfway mark between a 10K and a half-marathon. That’s no small feat.  

Undergrounding power lines prevents power outages during severe weather and protects our neighbors and wildlife from downed wire electrocutions and fire hazards.  

Over the past few months, crews have begun burying power lines in Standish, Allegan and Allendale communities, and our work isn’t stopping there.  

We plan to bury 1,000 miles of power lines underground within the next five years.  

Embracing the buy now, save later plan 

As an energy provider, we’re like your chain store, prepping for upcoming seasons months in advance. Picture it: you’re taking in another fun week at the AuSable River Fest or vacationing at Disney. Meanwhile, at any of our 15 storage fields, approximately 140 billion cubic feet of natural gas is being stockpiled for winter’s use.  

During off-peak or summer months, we buy natural gas from within our backyard and neighboring states. This allows us to pay less, passing the cost savings to you when it’s time to warm up those furnaces.  

Before natural gas is safely delivered to your home, it goes through a unique process across locations, compressor stations and pipelines. Our teams ensure the natural gas supply is adequately cleaned and pressurized before transmission to its final destination.  

Winter prep on behalf of our customers isn’t a quick trip to the store. One of our big to-dos is ensuring we’re equipped with enough natural gas to heat and power homes during the colder months.  

Warming your home in more ways than one 

With lower temps outside comes the desire to warm up inside. Some may prefer to layer up in their favorite flannel pajamas or enjoy the crackling of a fireplace. While others find it hard to resist the urge to tap that button on the thermostat. Keep warm and stay wallet-happy this winter with these energy and cost-saving to-dos: 

  • Lower your thermostat during the day or before bed. Even better – install a smart thermostat that helps you manage your energy use and then enroll in our Smart Thermostat Program to earn rewards! 
  • Use a draft stopper, sealant, or curtains to improve insulation around doors and windows. 
  • Cozy up safely with blankets, like down, fleece, weighted and heated options. 
  • Get your heating system routinely serviced by a pro. 
  • Consider investing in an energy-efficient furnace. 

Don’t feel left out in the cold. Help is available when you need it. For assistance with energy bills, call 2-1-1, visit mi211.org or ConsumersEnergy.com/Assistance to learn more about available resources.

And check out this blog for more ways to save energy and money this winter: 

6 Budget-Friendly Tips for Winterizing your Home | Force4Michigan