With Heat Wave Coming, Consumers Energy Offers Tips to Stay Safe and Save Energy for Homes, Businesses

JACKSON, Mich., July 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- With temperatures headed for the high 90s in Michigan this week, Consumers Energy is offering information to help businesses and households manage their energy use while still staying cool and safe.

"People have the power to lower energy costs even on the hottest days of the year," said Brian Rich, Consumers Energy's senior vice president of customer experience and chief information officer.

"We expect our customers' energy use this week will be one third higher than average, and we are prepared to make sure the lights – and air conditioning – turn on when they're needed."

Consumers Energy offers the following information for households. These and more tips can be found online at www.ConsumersEnergy.com/SaveEnergy:

• Set the air conditioning thermostat for your home or business at 78 degrees during the day and higher when you're away.
• Don't cool unused areas. Close doors and registers to cut energy costs.
• Block the summer sun: Close drapes, shades and blinds during the heat of the day to reduce your heat gain.
• In the heat of the day, avoid using appliances that generate a lot of heat, such as stoves and clothes dryers.
• Get a tune-up to be sure your air conditioning is operating at peak efficiency. Keep the coils clean on your air conditioner. Clean the filter routinely.
• Remember: A ceiling fan cools fast and costs less than air conditioning.Consumers Energy also offers tools to help businesses use less energy at http://businessmatters.consumersenergy.com/calculators:
• Cooling System Comparison Calculator -- Compare the cost to operate various cooling systems, as well as the cost to operate the same system under different rate structures, or rate discount programs.
• Facility Assessment Wizard – Find useful information that can lower your energy costs, increase efficiency and improve your bottom line.
• Commercial Energy Efficiency Recommendations -- Use this tool to get industry-specific advice on how your company can increase production, reduce costs and save money.
• Industrial Energy Efficiency Recommendations -- Receive industry-tailored recommendations to make the necessary changes to increase efficiency—and avoid less effective measures.

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.

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

Media toolkit

• LEARN MORE: Learn to manage your energy use: www.ConsumersEnergy.com/SaveEnergy
• HOUSEHOLDS: Learn about energy efficiency programs and rebates: www.ConsumersEnergy.com/myhome
• BUSINESSES: Learn about energy efficiency programs and rebates: www.ConsumersEnergy.com/mybusiness
• BE SAFE: Learn about safety around our electric and natural gas systems: www.ConsumersEnergy.com/safety

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SOURCE Consumers Energy

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