Concerns Over the Resiliency of Northern Michigan’s Power Grid
Aging Infrastructure Amid Harsh Weather
Energy policy experts are sounding the alarm over the reliability of Northern Michigan’s power grid, particularly as aging infrastructure struggles to cope with severe weather conditions. The issue has come to the forefront as the region faces increasingly harsh climates, raising questions about the grid’s ability to withstand such challenges.
According to experts, the ice storm in March 2025 was a stark illustration of these vulnerabilities. During this event, which severely affected many residents, the grid’s limitations were on full display. Unfortunately, this incident is not isolated; experts argue that Michigan’s electricity reliability is already among the worst in the nation.
Rising Costs for Unreliable Services
Ed Rivet, executive director of the Michigan Conservative Energy Forum, pointed out that the aging grid is causing frustrations for customers who are often subjected to high costs combined with unreliable service. The implications of neglecting infrastructure investment today could lead to even worse outcomes in the future.
“A lot of it is really investment in the infrastructure distribution and our grid,” Rivet explained. “We delayed it — and now we’re kind of paying the price of having to catch up on updating old infrastructure.”
The Climate Crisis and Increasing Demand
Nicholas Jansen, a clean energy organizer for Traverse City’s Groundwork Center, echoed these concerns, highlighting that as climate change escalates, Northern Michigan will likely experience more devastating storms, fires, and other extreme weather events. This inevitability poses a significant threat to the already vulnerable utility systems.
“We really just have a lot of vulnerabilities now, especially as we’re increasing demand so dramatically,” Jansen stated. He emphasized the urgent need for utility providers to prioritize upgrades to prevent issues from escalating further.
Putting People First Over Profit
Both Rivet and Jansen advocate for a wholesale approach to the problem, urging utility companies to place people’s needs ahead of profit margins. This paradigm shift is essential to addressing the pressing vulnerabilities facing the region’s power grid.
“There’s a need for a collective viewpoint, where we make decisions that prioritize the welfare of the community,” Jansen suggested, underlining the urgency of immediate action to curtail future problems.
The Aftermath of the March Ice Storm
The March ice storm significantly impacted Northern Michigan, leaving over 126,000 residents without power. Trisha Bloembergen, a spokesperson for Consumers Energy, confirmed the extent of the outages and clarified the company’s commitment to improving reliability. The company aims to ensure that extreme weather events lead to no more than 100,000 outages, with a goal that such outages last less than 24 hours.
“Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case with the ice storm — we are back on track to working to improve reliability for our customers,” Bloembergen said.
Infrastructure Improvements and Future Projects
Following the storm, Consumers Energy has identified urgent needs in the region and is committed to modernizing its energy infrastructure. The initiative includes several key projects aimed at bolstering the grid’s resilience. According to Bloembergen, major undertakings involve automation improvements, construction of three new substations, and extensive tree-clearing efforts for over 1,200 miles of power lines.
These measures are critical in ensuring that the infrastructure can withstand future storms and deliver reliable service to customers, who have been increasingly anxious about the grid’s vulnerabilities.
With ongoing discussions about the future of Michigan’s power grid, the focus remains on how to secure a reliable energy future for Northern Michigan residents, taking into account the dual challenges posed by aging infrastructure and an unpredictable climate.