Consumers Energy
Consumers Energy is a Michigan-regulated combination utility (electric and natural gas) and principal subsidiary of CMS Energy, serving approximately 1.8-2 million electric and 750,000+ gas customers across all 68 Lower Peninsula counties under a state-granted exclusive franchise.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1886
- HeadquartersJackson, United States
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Consumers Energy does
Consumers Energy is a Michigan-regulated combination utility, wholly owned as the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy Corporation (NYSE: CMS), providing electric service to approximately 1.8-2 million customers and natural gas service to more than 750,000 customers across all 68 counties of Michigan's Lower Peninsula — a state-granted exclusive franchise covering 6.8 million residents. The company operates an integrated platform spanning electricity generation (including the 250 MW Muskegon Solar Energy Center, 13-dam hydroelectric fleet being divested to Confluence Hydro, and the 1,420 MW J.H. Campbell coal plant under federal Section 202(c) orders), 9,000+ miles of power lines, 2,550 miles of gas transmission pipelines, AMI smart meter infrastructure, and customer-facing digital properties (website, mobile app, outage map, "CE Watts" chatbot). Generation is increasingly supplemented by 30-year renewable PPAs across Michigan, Illinois, and Iowa, with a stated goal of 8,000 MW of solar and 13+ GW of clean resources in its 20-year Integrated Resource Plan.
The business model is cost-of-service regulated under the Michigan Public Service Commission, with revenue from recurring monthly residential and commercial electric and gas rates (subject to consecutive rate cases including a $276.6M approved increase in March 2026 and a $456M request filed June 2026), offset by unregulated revenue streams including an Appliance Service Plan, the Consumers Energy Store marketplace (operated via ClearResult), pole attachment licensing for telecom and broadband providers via SPIDA/NJUNS, and convenience/processing fees on card payments. Customers span residential, small/medium business, commercial & industrial (including a major hyperscale data center pursuit up to 15 GW), critical community facilities, income-qualified households (via CARE, Helping Neighbors, State Emergency Relief), senior and life-support customers, and pole-attachment attachers.
Growth is funded by an aggressive $24 billion five-year capital plan from CMS Energy, including a $12 billion 10-year gas pipeline modernization program (headlined by the Four Cities Metro Pipeline project), supported by $850 million in 5.125% first mortgage bonds due 2036 and parent-level convertible note issuances. Operational performance is improving — 28% reduction in customer outage time since 2021, 60% fewer outages in 2025 versus 2024, and 130,000 outages prevented via the Reliability Action Plan, grid-edge weather stations, expanded pole inspections, and a Public Safety Power Shutoff policy — though rising rates, J.D. Power 2025 satisfaction below average, Michigan Attorney General intervention in rate cases, and unrecovered DOE coal-order costs create regulatory and affordability headwinds.
Consumers Energy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Consumers Energy
- Legal name
- Consumers Energy
- Website
- https://consumersenergy.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1886
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Consumers Energy is a Michigan-regulated combination utility (electric and natural gas) and principal subsidiary of CMS Energy, serving approximately 1.8-2 million electric and 750,000+ gas customers across all 68 Lower Peninsula counties under a state-granted exclusive franchise.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Consumers Energy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Electric and Natural Gas Utility Services
- NAICS
- Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211), Electric Power Transmission, Control, and Distribution (22112), Solar Electric Power Generation (221114), Wind Electric Power Generation (221115)
- SIC
- Electric Services (4911), Natural Gas Transmisison & Distribution (4923)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Regulated Residential & SMB Retail Supply (Default/Standard Offer) (EUAGABAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Retail Billing, Customer Care & CIS/BSS Operations (for Residential/SMB) (EUAGABAK), Electric Distribution System Owners (Wires-Only Companies) (EUADABAI)
Keywords
Where Consumers Energy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Jackson
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices22 records
Markets served
Consumers Energy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Regulated electric distribution rates: Cost-of-service regulated electric rates approved by the Michigan Public Service Commission; $456M rate hike requested June 2026 after $276.6M increase approved March 2026 (effective May 2026), targeting a 9.8% residential increase starting May 2027.
- Regulated natural gas distribution rates: Regulated gas rates with Dec. 16, 2025 rate case seeking 8.2% residential increase starting November 2026, supporting $12B 10-year pipeline replacement program.
- Appliance Service Plan (non-regulated): Non-MPSC-regulated optional appliance protection/extended warranty product; explicitly noted as not regulated by the Michigan Public Service Commission.
- Wholesale energy supply / renewable PPAs: Power Purchase Agreements for renewable supply (solar, wind) e.g. 30-year contracts for 1.3 GW solar across MI/IL/IA, plus generation from owned 250 MW Muskegon Solar and pipeline of up to 8,000 MW solar by 2040.
- Consumers Energy Store (rebate marketplace): E-commerce store operated via ClearResult marketplace selling energy-efficiency products (thermostats, dehumidifiers, smart home devices) with instant rebates and appliance recycling ($50 per fridge/freezer).
- Convenience/processing fees: $2.99 residential / $9.99 non-residential transaction fees on credit/debit card and digital wallet payments, retained by third-party payment processors (not by Consumers Energy).
- Capital markets / debt issuance: Capital raising via $850M 5.125% first mortgage bonds due 2036, $850M convertible senior notes due 2031, $3B equity offering program, plus $1.125 quarterly preferred dividend and $0.57 quarterly common dividend.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Electric rate case filed June 2, 2026 — average residential bill ($155/mo) projected to increase ~$13 (9%) starting May 2027 |
| Subscription | Monthly | Natural gas rate case filed Dec. 16, 2025 — average residential bill ($88/mo) projected to increase ~$7.21 (8.2%) starting Nov 2026 |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Outage credits — automatic credits after catastrophic/gray/blue-sky outages or 6+ consecutive sustained outages |
| Subscription | Monthly | Budget Plan — predictable monthly billing |
| Usage-based | Monthly | Shift and Save Summer Rate — time-of-use summer pricing |
| Subscription | Monthly | CARE / LIEAF / Helping Neighbors / SER bill assistance — income-qualified discount programs |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Smart Thermostat Rebate — instant rebate up to $50 (online) + up to $14.99 additional + $25 gift card per summer enrolled |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Consumers Energy Store products — discounted energy-efficiency merchandise |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Payment processing fees |
Go-to-market motion5 records
Distribution channels9 records
Marketing channels11 records
Consumers Energy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Consumers Energy is a regulated combination utility that generates, transmits, and distributes electricity and natural gas to approximately 1.8–2 million electricity customers and 750,000+ natural gas customers across all 68 counties of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. It sells energy under MPSC-approved tariffs, operates its own generation fleet (coal, natural gas, hydro, solar), and runs an AMI smart-meter-enabled retail platform with self-service web and mobile account tools, an online energy-efficiency store, demand-response programs, and a pole-attachment licensing business for telecom/broadband attachers.
Product overview
Consumers Energy's offering is a regulated utility platform rather than a single product: a core electric and natural gas delivery service to roughly 6.8 million Michigan residents is bundled with a portfolio of grid-modernization programs and customer-facing products. Generation-side products include the Muskegon Solar Energy Center (250 MW) and the proposed Weadock Battery Energy Storage System (45 MW), supported by the Reliability Action Plan (2026/2027), grid-edge weather station network, and a Public Safety Power Shutoff policy. Customer-facing modules include My Personalized Offerings (personalization/recommendation), the Smart Thermostat Program and Virtual Power Plant program (demand response and DER aggregation), the Consumers Energy Store online marketplace, Custom Due Date, Budget Plan, Automatic Outage Credits, the Outage Center/Map, and the Critical Care Program. The company also layers on income-qualified assistance (Helping Neighbors, CARE, State Emergency Relief partnerships) and foundation programs (Planet, Prosperity, People Awards, Put Your Town on the Map). Commercial-side products include the Pole Attachment Program and the Four Cities Metro Pipeline project.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Residential Electric Service Core regulated retail electricity supply and delivery to approximately 1.8–2 million residential customers across Michigan's Lower Peninsula, billed through the residential portal with optional Budget Plan, Custom Due Date, Smart Meter enrollment, outage-alert integration, and time-of-use Shift and Save Summer Rate option.
- Residential Natural Gas Service Core regulated natural gas distribution to approximately 750,000 Michigan homes and businesses, complemented by 2,550 miles of transmission pipeline, gas pipeline replacement programs (e.g., Four Cities Metro Pipeline), carbon-monoxide and gas-leak safety education, and the optional Appliance Service Plan warranty product.
- Commercial & Industrial Electric and Gas Service Regulated electric and natural gas supply and delivery to small/medium businesses and large commercial/industrial customers, with dedicated business specialists (800-805-0490), landlord property-management line, custom rate options, demand-response offerings, and targeted large-load contracts for hyperscale data center customers.
- Consumers Energy Online Store Own-brand e-commerce marketplace selling discounted energy-efficiency products (smart thermostats, dehumidifiers, smart-home devices, weatherization items, CO alarms, advanced power strips) with instant rebates and Smart Thermostat Program enrollment.
- Pole Attachment Program Licensed attachment service allowing telecom, cable, broadband, fiber, antenna, banner, camera/sensor, and municipal/government attachers to attach equipment to Consumers Energy poles; applications processed via SPIDA, maintenance transfers managed via NJUNS, with antenna standards and banner permits.
- Appliance Service Plan Optional, non-regulated extended warranty and appliance protection plan for residential customers, explicitly noted as not regulated by the Michigan Public Service Commission.
- Smart Thermostat Program Residential demand-response program in which enrolled smart thermostats automatically adjust 2–4 degrees during summer peak-demand events; customers receive an instant rebate up to $50 plus a $25 gift card per summer enrolled.
- Helping Neighbors Bill Assistance Program Direct bill-payment assistance funded by Consumers Energy and distributed through partner community agencies and nonprofits, part of a broader $5M statewide investment; supports vulnerable customers including income-qualified households at or below 150% federal poverty level.
- Automatic Outage Credits Automatic bill credits issued after catastrophic (96+ hrs), gray sky (48+ hrs), or blue sky (16+ hrs) outages, or after 6+ consecutive sustained outages; residential customers receive $42 base credit plus $42 per additional 24-hour period, and commercial customers receive one day's minimum bill per qualifying event.
- Custom Due Date Billing Optional billing feature for Smart Meter-equipped electric customers that allows them to choose a monthly due date aligned with their pay schedule, providing bill-timing flexibility.
- Critical Care Program Shut-off protection service for customers on life-support or with life-threatening medical conditions; requires annual re-enrollment through a Medical Certification Form, and provides designated protection against service disconnection for medical necessity.
- Budget Plan (Annualized Billing) Optional annualized billing product that evens out monthly payments across the year for predictable residential bills.
- Consumers Energy Surplus Store Own e-commerce storefront selling decommissioned utility equipment and surplus items via auction and catalog to end users, resellers, and manufacturers.
Quantifiable outcome
- 28% reduction in customer outage time since 2021
- +9 more outcomes
Companies that use Consumers Energy
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments9 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Consumers Energy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
AI capability11 records
Feature7 records
Consumers Energy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators15 records
Recent moves15 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Consumers Energy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- DTE Energy: DTE Energy is the other major investor-owned combination utility (electric and natural gas) in Michigan with overlapping franchise territory in southeastern Michigan, directly comparable in customer base, regulatory framework (MPSC), and service mix to Consumers Energy.
Broad incumbents
- CMS Energy: CMS Energy is Consumers Energy's publicly traded parent company (NYSE: CMS); the consolidated entity provides the closest financial and operational benchmark including Consumers Energy and the NorthStar Clean Energy subsidiary.
- Dominion Energy: Large multi-state combination utility with significant regulated electric and natural gas operations; Diane Leopold (newly elected Consumers Energy board director) was retired COO of Dominion, indicating shared operating model and talent pipeline.
- Duke Energy: Largest U.S. investor-owned combination utility with regulated electric and gas operations across multiple states; comparable in scale, capital intensity, and regulated monopoly structure. Recently hired VP Supply Chain Marlon Merritt came from Duke Energy.
- WEC Energy Group: Wisconsin-based combination utility serving electric and natural gas customers across the Upper Midwest; comparable in geographic scale, customer mix, and regulatory rate-base model to Consumers Energy's Michigan operations.
- Xcel Energy: Multi-state combination utility widely recognized as a leader in renewable energy buildout and grid-edge programs; comparable in capital deployment scale, IRP-driven renewables pipeline, and regulated monopoly service model across Midwest states.
- Ameren: Missouri/Illinois-based combination utility with similar regulated electric and natural gas operations, comparable customer density, and overlapping capital-intensive grid modernization programs in the Midwest.
- Alliant Energy: Wisconsin/Iowa combination utility with overlapping Midwest footprint and similar customer profile of regulated residential, commercial, and industrial electric and gas service; comparable in scale, renewable energy adoption, and regulatory environment.
- Entergy: Large multi-state electric utility serving the South Central U.S. with comparable generation fleet transitions (coal retirement, renewables buildout) and regulated rate-base model. Recently hired VP Supply Chain Marlon Merritt came from Entergy.
Regional players
- TC Energy: Major North American energy infrastructure company with significant natural gas transmission and storage operations; comparable on the gas pipeline side of Consumers Energy's business (2,550 miles of gas pipelines) and a recent employer of newly hired VP Supply Chain Marlon Merritt.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Consumers Energy social profiles
Digital presenceConsumers Energy compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Consumers Energy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Consumers Energy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
Consumers Energy subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Consumers Energy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Consumers Energy M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Consumers Energy
What does Consumers Energy do?
Consumers Energy is a regulated combination utility that generates, transmits, and distributes electricity and natural gas to approximately 1.8–2 million electricity customers and 750,000+ natural gas customers across all 68 counties of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. It sells energy under MPSC-approved tariffs, operates its own generation fleet (coal, natural gas, hydro, solar), and runs an AMI smart-meter-enabled retail platform with self-service web and mobile account tools, an online energy-efficiency store, demand-response programs, and a pole-attachment licensing business for telecom/broadband attachers.
Is Consumers Energy a public or private company?
Consumers Energy is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Consumers Energy founded?
Consumers Energy was founded in 1886. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Consumers Energy based?
Consumers Energy is headquartered in Jackson, United States, in the North America region.
How does Consumers Energy make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. Regulated electric distribution rates are the primary driver. The others are regulated natural gas distribution rates, appliance Service Plan (non-regulated), wholesale energy supply / renewable PPAs, consumers Energy Store (rebate marketplace), convenience/processing fees and capital markets / debt issuance.
Who are Consumers Energy's main competitors?
DTE Energy is listed as a direct peer. Broad incumbents are CMS Energy, Dominion Energy, Duke Energy, WEC Energy Group, Xcel Energy, Ameren, Alliant Energy and Entergy. TC Energy is listed as a regional player.
Does Consumers Energy have an API?
No public API is recorded for Consumers Energy.
What industry is Consumers Energy in?
Consumers Energy's product category is Electric and Natural Gas Utility Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAGABAA, Regulated Residential & SMB Retail Supply (Default/Standard Offer), with a secondary code of EUAGABAK, Retail Billing, Customer Care & CIS/BSS Operations (for Residential/SMB). Its NAICS code is 2211 and its SIC code is 4911.