Boyne City, MI – Approximately 34,000 Great Lakes Energy (GLE) members are without power across 18 of the cooperative’s 26 county service territory. Restoration efforts gained throughout the northern region today were offset by the introduction of additional storm activity in the central and southern portions of the cooperative’s footprint. Service has been restored to more than 103,000 members since the original storms began.
Crews are responding to hundreds of damaged poles, with many locations still inaccessible. The restoration timeline remains extended due to the time-intensive process of replacing poles—each requiring several hours—as well as repairing downed wires and clearing debris from fallen trees.
Great Lakes Energy members are reminded to treat every downed line as if it were energized and stay a minimum of 25 feet from any downed wire, trees, or trees in lines.
Generator safety is critical during extended outages. Members using generators should ensure they are operated outside in a well-ventilated area clear of debris, and correctly connected so they do not backfeed into the power lines and cause harm to workers. Many small generators require maintenance after extended use. Please check your owner’s manual for proper maintenance instructions and watch our generator safety video at gtlakes.com/power-outages/ for more details.
For residents with limited options, Michigan 2-1-1 is a local resource available to connect those in need with lodging, food, or assistance. Visit www.mi211.org or call 2-1-1 to learn more.
Members can report outages through their online account, the Great Lakes Energy app, or by calling 888-485-2537. For updates, visit gtlakes.com/power-outages/ or follow GLE on Facebook.
