Getting Ready to Send Utility Crews Home

Delta Twp (WILX)-- Consumers Energy is getting ready to send crews home with a few thousand customers in mid-Michigan left without power.

The utility company is confident fewer than 1,000 people will be left in the dark after Saturday, and Board of Water and Light authorities say they won't be too far behind.

With more than 600 crews called in after last weekend's ice storm, Consumers Energy won't be needing a majority of them after Sunday.

"Hopefully we'll start sending them back Saturday. We hope to get everybody back up by Sunday, and we'll certainly be sending them home," said Dan Malone, Consumers Energy Administrator.

According to Malone, restoration should be near complete Saturday night for the company, but there's going to be a few homes still in need.

"We're talking ten to a couple hundred homes left after the weekend," said Malone.

BWL has only 30 crews, but they plan to have 99% of their customers with power by Sunday night.

"Thirty is a good number because that's the most we can handle. We have to look out for the safety of our customers and workers," said J. Peter Lark, BWL General Manager.

Lark doesn't deny that with more crews restoration would be closer to finishing in Lansing, but says there are rules.

"Every time we bring in a crews from out of state we have to put one of our workers with that crew. We are at capacity," said Lark.

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Getting Ready to Send Utility Crews Home