500,000 Customers Now Enrolled in Consumers Energy Online Billing and Service Program

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Feb 14, 2011, 06:30 ET

JACKSON, Mich., Feb. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- On this Valentine's Day Consumers Energy customers are "showing the love" for online billing and services. A record number of customers – more than 500,000 – are now enrolled in Consumers Energy's online offerings.

"We're seeing this program grow by leaps and bounds. This number has grown by 11 percent just since this summer," said Tom O'Masta, executive manager of customer operations for Consumers Energy.

"Clearly customers are finding that online billing is convenient and easy to use. Customers considering choosing online billing can be assured that this is done securely and safely," said O'Masta. Customers can pay their monthly bill online through an automatic withdrawal from their checking account or by using their MasterCard or Visa card in the new recurring card payments option. Customers also may pay as they go each month by scheduling payments through the pay over the net option.

"In addition to paying their bill online, customers can save time and money through a number of options available 24/7 at Consumers Energy's website," said O'Masta. These options include: Reporting a power outage; receiving a service restoration estimate following a power outage; selecting or changing their payment method; setting up payment arrangements; reporting a payment or meter read; starting, transferring or stopping an electric or natural gas service; checking electric or gas rates; or tracking home energy use.

Consumers Energy recently launched its first mobile enabled Web application, which allows users to report a power outage and receive a service restoration estimate. Additional functionality to enhance customer service will be added throughout 2011.

Information on how to begin paying your bills online through eServices is available at: www.consumersenergy.com

Consumers Energy, the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy, provides natural gas and electricity to nearly 6.5 million of Michigan's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.

For more information about Consumers Energy, visit our Website at www.consumersenergy.com

SOURCE Consumers Energy