TPi September 2017

business & market news Consumers Energy investing to enhance safety and reliability of natural gas system

vintage transmission line to improve safety and increase natural gas transmission capacity into Saginaw, Genesee and Oakland counties.

and remediate about 600 miles of transmission and distribution system with inline inspection and direct assessment; and $120mn on the first phase of construction of the Saginaw Trail Pipeline – a five-year, $610mn project that will replace 78 miles of

Focusing on safety and reliability, Consumers Energy, USA, is spending nearly $440mn this year to modernise its natural gas system. “At Consumers Energy, the safe, reliable delivery of natural gas is a top priority,” said Charles Crews, the company’s vice president of gas operations. “We are committed to continually strengthening our natural gas system to benefit the 1.8mn homes and businesses we are proud to serve throughout Lower Michigan.” Upgrade projects for 2017 are in infrastructure replacement, growth and pipeline integrity. A total of $75mn will be spent to complete 40 improvement projects and replace 67 miles of pipe with plastic and steel, using approximately 500 employees dedicated to the programme. These projects are scheduled across Michigan, USA. In addition, the company is working with state, county and municipal projects to relocate or replace natural gas infrastructure, including replacing around 8,500 service lines leading to homes and businesses. The energy provider is investing about $60mn into these roadway and civic improvement projects this year. With the economy expanding, Consumers Energy is investing $120mn in its natural gas system in 2017 to keep up with growth in Michigan, which includes $35mn in expansions and improvements to serve a projected nearly 8,000 new business customers; $33mn to construct 190 miles of distribution main to serve customers in areas currently without natural gas service; and $27mn for the first two project phases to augment the delivery systems and increase natural gas supply to meet growth in the Caledonia and Lowell areas. $183mn is being invested in pipeline integrity, to help ensure the continued safe delivery of natural gas. These initiatives include $63mn to inspect

Consumers Energy – USA www.consumersenergy.com

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