JACKSON, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Consumers Energy says that nearly 50 workers left Wednesday morning for North Carolina to help restore power after tens of thousands of customers were left without power from a series of severe storms across the southern U.S. over the last few days.
The crews, equipment and support personnel are from more than 20 different service centers across Lower Michigan.
“We are pleased we can assist the residents of North Carolina while still having enough crews here in Michigan to serve our customers,” said Guy Packard, Consumers Energy’s vice president of electric operations. “We have benefitted from mutual assistance during large storms here. Now is our time to help others.”
In addition, Consumers Energy has released 15 contractor crews from across the state who work for the energy provider. They are headed to Richmond, Virginia. The Consumers Energy personnel will be assisting Duke Energy. It will be a two-day trip ending in Newton, N.C..
Crews may be asked to perform additional restoration work in neighboring states because of the widespread damage and additional severe weather expected. More than 5 million homes and businesses across the U.S. have lost power at some point this week from a series of storms.