Consumers Energy Reduces Natural Gas Costs, Lowest In Decade

JACKSON, Mich., March 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers Energy will lower natural gas fuel costs by 15 percent effective April 1, 2013, as the company delivers on its promise to provide the best energy value to Michigan families and businesses. 

"We are moving forward with our plan to provide our gas customers with savings.  Consumers Energy has reduced natural gas costs since February 2012 by 26 percent, which is projected to save our customers about $200 million over the next year. This is the largest price reduction in recent company history and it's helping Michigan families and businesses," said Tim Sparks, Consumers Energy's vice president of energy supply operations. 

A typical Michigan family saved about $150 as a result of Consumers Energy's efforts to reduce gas fuel costs over the past year.  Annual savings for businesses and manufacturers can be thousands of dollars due to larger volumes of gas used in their operations.

Sparks added that "prices charged by Consumers Energy for natural gas are the lowest they've been in a decade -- since 2003 -- and we are pursuing future savings. This is a positive signpost for Michigan's economy and the communities we serve." 

Consumers Energy will conduct a webinar for business customers on April 17 on saving money through lower natural gas prices. Registration for the webinar is free and available at:  www.ConsumersEnergy.com/content.aspx?id=6087

Consumers Energy is uniquely positioned to take advantage of lower-priced natural gas now available in the U.S.  Because of Consumers Energy's massive storage system -- one of the largest in the country -- the company can purchase gas when it's lower priced in warmer months, thereby avoiding the higher-priced spot market in winter months.

Sparks noted that Consumers Energy continues to invest in its natural gas infrastructure to take advantage of lower-cost supplies, benefiting customers now and in the future.  Projects include expansion and updating of gas compressor stations and replacement of natural gas pipelines.  The company delivers natural gas to 1.7 million customers in 45 counties in Michigan's Lower Peninsula. 

Consumers Energy also provides an easy-to-use calculator to compare its natural gas fuel costs to other alternative gas suppliers.  To learn more, visit: www.ConsumersEnergy.com/gascalculator

Consumers Energy, the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS), provides natural gas and electricity to 6.8 million of Michigan's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.

For more information about Consumers Energy, visit us at www.ConsumersEnergy.com

SOURCE Consumers Energy