Consumer Energy Earmarks Almost ‘$440 Million’ Dedicated To The Safety Of Its Natural Gas System

Dailycsr.com – 24 May 2017 – Consumers Energy shows its concern towards “safety and reliability” by spending “nearly $440 million” in this year for modernizing “its natural gas system”. While, the Gas Operation’s Vice President at Consumers Energy, Charles Crews, stated:
“At Consumers Energy, the safe, reliable delivery of natural gas is a top priority. We are committed to continually strengthening our natural gas system to benefit the 1.8 million homes and businesses we are proud to serve throughout Lower Michigan”.

Projects have been upgraded in the year of 2017 under “infrastructure replacement, growth, and pipeline integrity” to fit its agenda.

The company will be spending “$75 million” under the first category to “complete 40 improvement projects and replace 67 miles of pipe with plastic and steel”. Here are the names of the project areas, as mentioned by Ethical Performance:

11 projects in the Royal Oak area 6 projects in Lansing, Jackson and Adrian areas 6 projects in the Macomb area 4 projects in the Flint area 4 projects in the Saginaw, Midland and Alma areas 4 projects in the Plymouth, Auburn and Waterford areas 4 projects in the Kalamazoo area

Moreover, Consumer Energy also informed that:
“In addition, Consumers Energy is working in conjunction with state, county and municipal projects to relocate or replace natural gas infrastructure, including replacing about 8,500 service lines leading to homes and businesses. The energy provider is investing about $60 million into these roadway and civic improvement projects this year”.

Under the second category, “Growth”, the company will be devoting its “$120 million” to promote growth of its “natural gas system” in Michigan. Here are of the details of the projects in this section, as mentioned by Ethical Performance:

$35 million in expansions and improvements to serve a projected nearly 8,000 new business customers. $33 million to construct 190 miles of distribution main to serve customers in areas currently without natural gas service. More than 2,500 new residential customers will be reached through the energy company’s Customer Attachment Program. $27 million 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. $25 million to increase the capacity of regulation facilities where natural gas pressures are reduced and odorant is added for safety, including a city gate upgrade associated with the Caledonia-Lowell system upgrade.

When it comes to the third category, in other words, under “Pipeline Integrity”, Consumers Energy has kept aside “$183 million”, which will help the company to ensure “continued safe delivery of natural gas”. The list of initiatives under taken in this category, mentioned by Ethical Performance, includes:

$63 million to inspect and remediate about 600 miles of its transmission and distribution system with inline inspection and direct assessment. $120 million on the first phase of construction of the Saginaw Trail Pipeline, a five-year, $610 million project that will replace 78 miles of vintage transmission line to improve safety and increase natural gas transmission capacity into Saginaw, Genesee and Oakland counties.

References:
ethicalperformance.com

Consumer Energy Earmarks Almost ‘$440 Million’ Dedicated To The Safety Of Its Natural Gas System

Take a brief look at the projects renewed by Consumer Energy to maintain its commitment towards “infrastructure replacement, growth, and pipeline integrity”.