Consumers Energy Releases First-ever Accountability Report, Highlighting Investments In Michigan Businesses Environmental Stewardship And Increased Corporate Giving

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Oct 03, 2013, 06:00 ET

JACKSON, Mich., Oct. 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers Energy has released its first-ever Accountability Report, an overview of the Company's efforts to continue meeting Michigan's energy needs. The report highlights Consumers Energy's commitment to Michigan businesses, its corporate citizenship and role in making the state's air the cleanest it has been in a generation.

"We are committed to making the right choices to serve our customers safely and affordably and to act responsibly as a corporate citizen," Consumers Energy President and CEO John Russell writes in the report.

"That means holding ourselves accountable to the highest standards of safety, operational performance and ethical behavior, and complying with all laws, rules and regulations that govern our industry," Russell writes.

The 18-page report is available to the public and offers an in-depth look at Consumers Energy's performance and commitment to be the best in class among the Midwest's energy utilities. View and download the full Accountability Report at www.ConsumersEnergy.com/accountability.

Among the report's highlights:

Consumers Energy has been Michigan's second-leading investor since 2008. It is continuing its commitment to increase spending with Michigan-based businesses by $1 billion over five years, a pledge made through its leadership in the Pure Michigan Business Connect initiative. That's in addition to the $2 billion the Company spends annually in Michigan on goods and services.
The company is spending $7 billion on renewable energy, environmental quality, energy efficiency, energy reliability and natural gas and electric infrastructure from 2013 to 2017.
Giving by the company, its corporate foundation, employees and retirees has more than doubled since 2009, to $10 million in 2012.
Air emissions from the company's generating plants have fallen significantly since 2007 and are projected to continue falling through this decade. Mercury emissions are expected to decrease by 83 percent from 2007 to 2020.

"Our Promise to Michigan is to deliver the energy our customers need, whenever they need it," Russell said. "This Accountability Report shows we are making good progress on that Promise, and we will continue to do so for the years ahead."

Consumers Energy, Michigan's largest utility, is the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS), providing natural gas and electricity to 6.6 million of the state's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.

For more information regarding Consumers Energy, visit us at: www.ConsumersEnergy.com or join us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/consumersenergymichigan

SOURCE Consumers Energy