Power Outages Coming To Ionia And Allegan Counties This Weekend

If you live in Ionia or Allegan counties, you might want to plan ahead for a brief power outage in the coming weeks.

Consumers Energy announced that thousands of residents will temporarily lose electricity as crews complete scheduled maintenance overnight in both communities.

The first outage will affect around 2,500 customers in the Pullman area starting Saturday, Oct. 11. The power will go out around 11 pm on Saturday and is expected to be restored by 7 am on Sunday. Consumers Energy says the interruption is due to substation maintenance near 56th Street, between 116th Avenue and 102nd Avenue.

Meanwhile, in Ionia County, roughly 1,200 customers will experience planned outages two weekends in a row as part of a project supported by ITC Michigan, the electric transmission provider.

Those outages will happen overnight Sunday, October 12th, and Sunday, October 19, between midnight and 6 am. Residents who will be affected are those primarily along Dildine Road and north of West Main Street.

Consumers Energy says performing maintenance work overnight helps reduce the impact on daily routines. Customers who will be affected should have already received postcards in the mail notifying them of the planned outages. Anyone with questions can contact the utility directly at 800-477-5050.

How to Prepare for the Outage

Even though these outages are temporary, it’s always smart to take a few precautions before the lights go out:

• Charge your essentials early. Make sure phones, tablets, and flashlights are fully charged before the outage begins.
• Unplug sensitive electronics. Protect your devices from potential power surges when electricity is restored.
• Plan for cold storage. Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to prevent food spoilage.
• Check on neighbors. If you know someone elderly or with medical equipment, make sure they’re prepared.
• Keep flashlights handy. Avoid using candles if possible, especially overnight.

While the outages may be a minor inconvenience, the overnight timing and clear communication mean most residents can sleep through the work without much disruption.

And once complete, the upgrades should help ensure more reliable power service heading into the colder months, which is well worth the small headache this may cause for some residents who are caught offguard.