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ALCONA COUNTY — Consumers Energy will schedule two four-hour power outages that will affect residents of Gustin Township in Alcona County as part of a project to rebuild an electric substation and improve service in the area.
“We want to thank our customers in advance as we finish connecting this major piece of electric infrastructure that will improve the reliability of customers’ electric service,” said Steve Herrygers, Consumers Energy’s senior executive director of high voltage distribution.
“This upgrade is important for the long term, even as we acknowledge it will cause a short-term inconvenience. We plan to do this work quickly and safely, and get the lights back on.”
About 1,429 residents in the Lincoln and Harrisville area will be affected by work scheduled from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 31. If the work must be rescheduled, it will begin at 9 a.m. Feb. 7.
A second outage will affect 799 customers west of Greenbush, including the community of Mikado, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 3. The backup date for that work is Feb. 10.
The project includes replacing aging equipment. The rebuilt substation will have more electrical capacity and will be served by new, more reliable high-voltage distribution lines. Customer circuits will also be reconfigured to allow faster response times if outages occur.
Consumers Energy is upgrading equipment and strengthening the electric grid as part of its Reliability Roadmap to reduce the number and length of power outages across Michigan.
Postcards were mailed to affected customers. Customers with questions or concerns should call Consumers Energy at 800-477-5050.
