'Automatic Transfer Reclosers' Help Keep
Lights on for Michiganders
JACKSON,
Mich., Dec. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers
Energy's investment in smart technology for Michigan's electric grid is paying off,
keeping the lights on for over 72,000 customers who would have
otherwise lost power at some point this year.
Devices known as automatic transfer reclosers, or ATRs, have
provided this benefit to customers. They're an example of a
leading-edge technology that detects a power outage remotely and,
like traffic lights, automatically limits the extent of a power
outage.
Ultimately, fewer customers are affected when things go wrong.
So far in 2024, Consumers Energy projects those 72,000-plus
customers would have lost power for a total of over 350,000
hours.
"Consumers Energy is building a stronger grid with our
Reliability Roadmap, and it's also a smarter one that will keep
more people from losing power in the first place," said
Greg Salisbury, Consumers Energy's
vice president of electric distribution engineering. "The results
that we're seeing from our ATRs and other technological tools show
us that we're on the right path to better serving our friends and
neighbors 24/7/365."
WATCH: How Consumers Energy's "traffic
light" contains a power outage
Consumers Energy is installing over 100 ATRs across Michigan this year – it has almost 550 at work
across the state now -- and plans to continue adding more in the
future as part of the Reliability Roadmap. The company is trying to
reach two long-term goals – ensuring no more than 100,000 customers
lose power, even after the worst storms, and always restoring power
in 24 hours or less.
Other tactics in the Reliability Roadmap include increased line
clearing, infrared cameras, more durable iron poles, burying power
lines and even a robotic dog.
Learn more:
ConsumersEnergy.com/reliable.
Consumers Energy is Michigan's
largest energy provider, providing natural gas and/or electricity
to 6.8 million of the state's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower
Peninsula counties. Consumers Energy knows job number one is to
keep the lights on for customers. We are committed to delivering
reliable, clean, and affordable energy to our customers
24/7.
For more information about Consumers Energy, go
to ConsumersEnergy.com.
Check out Consumers Energy on Social
Media
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SOURCE Consumers Energy