Consumers Energy to Roll Out Mobile Storm Units

Three 53-foot-long mobile storm units will be stationed in northern Michigan’s Cadillac, as well as Jackson and Grand Rapids to help CMS Energy Corp. crews more quickly restore power after bad weather.

The company’s Consumers Energy unit said Tuesday that the semi-trailers will be able to roll out with short notice to areas where powerful storms are forecast. They’ll serve as crew staging areas and carry cross arms, insulators, coils of wire, hardware and other power restoration equipment.

The Jackson-based utility says the units will be delivered this week.

Consumers Vice President Michele Kirkland says the units will bring “the storeroom to the field” and “reduce travel” so line-workers can focus on repairs.

The utility provides natural gas and electricity to 6.6 million people in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.