Consumers Energy and DTE linemen return to work today hoping to restore electricity to hundreds of thousands of Michigan utility customers left in the dark by Sunday’s windstorm.
At last report, DTE says it still has about 150,000 customers waiting to have their electricity turned back on. Consumers Energy has more than 170,000 of its customers waiting for their power to be restored.
Last night was not a good time to be without electricity. Temperatures around the state dipped below the freezing mark.
Hundreds of thousands of Michiganders who lost their electricity Sunday had a few options to choose from: Stay with friends or family, find a hotel with power, in some places local shelters opened their doors or brave a very chilly night at home.
Utility crews return to work today. But for some Michiganders the wait will be a lot longer. It could be Saturday before the light, and in some cases, heat comes back to some customers.