Consumers Energy: Don't Count on Us

March 13, 2024
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Marita Ky, Robert Gailbraith, Mara Pusic, Ember McCoy

Consumers Energy, the primary business of CMS Energy, is the second-largest utility corporation in Michigan by customers, providing electric service to 1.8 million and gas service to 1.7 million people. Consumers Energy, like other investor-owned utilities (IOUs), is ultimately concerned with extracting the most profits for its investors and shareholders to whom the company answers. It is clear to Michigan residents that IOUs, like Consumers Energy, will not protect their interests in providing clean, reliable, and affordable energy to Michigan residents without policy interventions and regulation from our government. This report aims to shed light on some of the most problematic aspects of Consumers’ practices that cause financial and health harm to Michigan residents and our planet. This information includes: who Consumers’ major shareholders are, the sky-high compensation of board of directors and executive leadership, the strategic direct campaign donations Consumers gives to our legislators, and the influence of its shadowy dark money group on our state politics and our livelihoods.