Energy Credit Good News for Fenton Residents Weary of 'Icepocalypse'

It may be small comfort if you’ve been shivering in the dark for more than five days – and many Fenton residents have after “Icepocalpyse 2013” –  but you may be eligible for a $25 credit from Consumers Energy.

The credit is authorized in Michigan Public Service Commission rules, The Flint Journal reports. Those eligible may apply online here.

The Dec. 21-22 ice storm left tens of thousands of Michigan customers without power in what Consumers Energy spokeswoman Debra Dodd called the worst Christmas week outage in the 125-year history of the company.

Dodd asked for the public’s patience in processing the applications.

“We’ve got to get through the storm first, obviously, but then we will staff accordingly to get through the credit (applications),” she said. “Mother Nature not only dealt us the initial blow with the ice storm, but continued cold temperatures have not allowed the ice to melt. …

“It truly has been a catastrophic storm for us,” Dodd said.
About 19 percent of Consumers Energy’s  1.8 million customers  – about 348,000 outages – were without power immediately after the ice storm.

By Friday morning, that number had been reduced to 86,500 statewide, but many in Genesee County – the area hardest hit by the storm – are still in the dark. It may be Saturday before all of Michigan’s lights are back on.

At the peak of the outage, more than 42 percent of Genesee County customers were affected. By Friday morning, about 20,000 customers were still without power, according to The Flint Journal.

The newspaper also said that 60 more work crews were added to 150 already working to get the lights back on in Genesee County. The crews work 16-hour days, starting at 6 a.m.

"We are doing everything we can to restore power," said Dan Malone, senior vice president for distribution, operation and engineering and transmission for Consumers Energy. "We appreciate everyone's patience. We know it's over the holidays and we know it's tough."

Meanwhile, Fenton residents are frustrated by what they say is a lack of communication from official sources.

Patch reader Joe Rem posted a comment giving city officials “a big ‘F’ for failure just when citizens need them the most.”

“So dy five of no power and I’m wondering if the city and our so-called leaders even acknowledge the situation in this town,” Rem wrote. “Any news or updates on the city site? Nothing. Any warming sites or assistance for the many seniors that may be suffering? Nope. Any action by officials to contact Consumers Energy to try and get a better response? Apparently no.”

The city said on its web site that its public works crews have prioritized the removal of downed branches and are taking care of those on or near power lines or blocking roads first. “Dangerous branches and those that impede traffic will be taken care of first,” the city said.

Residents are asked to place loose branches in their parkways to assist crews.

“With the amount of tree damage that we currently have and more that may fall … we expect that it will be a couple of weeks before we are done with cleanup from the storm,” the city said.

More: Though devastating, ice storms like the one that left about 3,000 Fenton residents without power make for beautiful scenery. Check out some stunning photography by Fady Elias.