Consumers Energy, Partners Provide Additional $5 Million to Help Michigan Families Stay Safe and Warm

JACKSON, Mich., Jan. 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers Energy and five nonprofit organizations are again helping Michigan families stay warm, announcing $5 million in new contributions that will help households manage their energy bills. In all, the energy provider and nonprofit agencies are teaming up to help over 50,000 households across Michigan this winter.

"We are committed to doing our part to help Michigan residents who are facing hardship to stay warm, even on the coldest days of the year," said Garrick Rochow, Consumers Energy's senior vice president of distribution and customer operations. "We want people to know that help is available and as close as a phone call away."

In October, Consumers Energy and nonprofit organizations announced $12 million in funding.

The nonprofit agencies provide the funding directly to people who need help managing their energy bills. They are The Salvation Army, Michigan Community Action, The Heat and Warmth Fund (THAW), the St. Vincent DePaul Society and TrueNorth Community Services.

The Company encourages anyone who is looking for available assistance in their community to start by calling 2-1-1, a free service that can refer people to local assistance programs, or by visiting www.ConsumersEnergy.com/assistance.

Consumers Energy is helping Michigan residents in other ways this winter. Its CARE program is currently enrolling households in long-term payment plans to manage their energy bills. CARE provides customers with monthly bill credits, along with the opportunity to receive forgiveness of past-due balances and to receive free in-home energy efficiency upgrades that reduce energy costs.

Consumers Energy, Michigan's largest utility, is the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS), providing natural gas and electricity to 6.7 million of the state's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.

Help is available

CALL 2-1-1: Dial 2-1-1 first to find out what resources are available in your community.

CARE: Learn more about Consumers Energy's CARE program at www.ConsumersEnergy.com/CARE

CONSUMERS ENERGY: Learn about Consumers Energy programs that can help with your energy bill: www.ConsumersEnergy.com/assistance

For more information about Consumers Energy, go to www.ConsumersEnergy.com.

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SOURCE Consumers Energy

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