Boyne City, MI — Great Lakes Energy line crews, along with help from additional contract and mutual aid crews, worked into the evening to return power to approximately 5,000 GLE members last night. Roughly 35,000 members are still without power this morning.
Storm damage has left many roads impassable and caused extensive harm to power infrastructure, slowing the restoration process. GLE, in partnership with the Otsego County Road Commission, is prioritizing road clearance to ensure crews can reach affected areas as quickly as possible.
Crews have identified hundreds of broken poles, and many areas remain inaccessible. Replacing poles—a process that takes several hours—along with repairing downed wires and clearing fallen trees, is contributing to the extended restoration timeline. GLE is also closely monitoring the severe storms in the forecast that are predicted to have significant impacts to GLE’s entire service area. Despite the ongoing challenges, GLE remains focused on restoring service.
Safety Reminder: Generator safety is critical during extended outages. Always use a transfer switch to connect generators properly and prevent backfeeding, which poses a serious risk to utility workers. Great Lakes Energy members are reminded to stay at least 25 feet away from downed power lines, trees, or electrical equipment, as they may still be energized.
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.
