JACKSON – Consumers Energy was preparing crews for restoration efforts as two waves of inclement weather were expected to sweep across the state, according to a press release on Wednesday. The company was urging customers to get ready for both extreme heat and storms.

Consumers Energy hosted a news conference on Wednesday to provide an update on the incoming inclement weather and what customers can expect.

The two waves of inclement weather were expected to occur Wednesday evening and Thursday evening, according to the release. Both waves pose the risk of severe thunderstorms, high winds, flooding, and isolated tornadoes. The company explained that crews would be staged as needed, and prepared to respond to restoration efforts and potential damage assessment.

“We understand losing power can be inconvenient for our customers, especially during periods of extreme weather,” Norm Kapala, Consumers Energy’s vice president of grid operations, restoration, and work management, said in the release. “Our customers can count on us to monitor the weather and respond accordingly with resources pre-staged across the state.”

Consumers Energy urged the public to keep these safety tips in mind:

– Be alert to crews working along roadsides. Drivers should slow down or stop and wait for oncoming traffic to clear so they can go safely past.

– Stay at least 25 feet away from downed power lines and report unguarded downed lines by calling 9-1-1 and Consumers Energy at 800-477-5050. Consumers Energy reminds people that falsely calling in downed lines actually slows down the restoration process for everyone.

– Never use a generator in an attached garage, basement, enclosed patio, or near any air intakes. Doing so could cause a generator to produce hazardous levels of carbon monoxide, an odorless, colorless, and deadly gas.

– Consumers Energy will trim or remove trees interfering with electric restoration activities. Once safe to do so, clean-up of debris from tree trimming or removal during a storm emergency is the responsibility of individual property owners.

– In some cases, the mast that holds the electric service wires to a home or business may have been damaged or torn away. Crews will reconnect the wires to a home, but only a licensed electrician can repair or replace a mast or a cable.

Customers can continue to check the status of outages at ConsumersEnergy.com/OutageCenter. They can also sign up for outage alerts and restoration times sent to a phone, email, or text message.

Text ‘REG’ to 232273 or visit ConsumersEnergy.com/alerts.