Consumers Energy provides both natural gas and electricity, depending on where you live in Michigan

Consumers Energy is a utility company that serves parts of Michigan. In some areas, they deliver only electricity to your home. In other areas, they deliver only natural gas. In still other areas, they deliver both. Which service you get depends entirely on your address — not on what you choose.

The company does not let you pick one over the other. If natural gas lines run to your neighborhood, Consumers Energy will deliver gas to homes there. If electric lines run there, they deliver electricity. Many Michigan homes served by Consumers Energy receive both fuels from the same company, which can simplify billing since you get one monthly statement for both services.

Key Takeaways

  • Consumers Energy delivers electricity, natural gas, or both depending on your street address and which infrastructure exists in your area.
  • You cannot choose to receive only one service if both are available at your location — the utility decides based on existing lines.
  • Your bill will show separate charges for gas and electricity if you receive both, with different rates for each fuel.
  • You can find out which services are available at your address by calling Consumers Energy or checking your current bill if you already have service there.

How to find out what Consumers Energy offers at your address

The fastest way is to look at a bill you already have from Consumers Energy. If you receive both gas and electric service, your bill will show two separate sections — one for natural gas charges and one for electricity charges. If you receive only one, the bill will show only that service.

If you do not have a bill, call Consumers Energy at 1-800-477-5050. Tell them your street address and they will tell you which services are available there. You can also visit their website and enter your address in the service area map, though calling is usually faster for a direct answer.

Why some areas get gas and others get electricity only

Utilities build infrastructure — pipes for gas, wires for electricity — based on demand and cost. In densely populated areas of Michigan, Consumers Energy built both gas and electric lines because enough customers wanted both services to justify the investment. In some rural or newer areas, they may have built only electric lines, or only gas lines.

Once those lines are in place, they stay. You cannot request that Consumers Energy install new gas or electric infrastructure just for your home — that would cost tens of thousands of dollars and the company would not do it for a single customer. If your neighborhood does not have gas lines, you cannot get natural gas from Consumers Energy, even if you want it.

What the charges look like if you receive both services

Your monthly bill will have two main sections. The electricity section shows how many kilowatt-hours you used, the rate per kilowatt-hour, and your total electricity charge. The natural gas section shows how many therms (units of gas) you used, the rate per therm, and your total gas charge. Both sections may include additional fees for delivery, taxes, and other charges.

The rates for gas and electricity are separate and change independently. Consumers Energy may raise electricity rates while keeping gas rates the same, or vice versa. You will see these changes reflected in your bill when they take effect.

What to do if you think your address should have service it does not

If you believe Consumers Energy should be able to deliver gas or electricity to your home but they say they cannot, call their customer service line at 1-800-477-5050 and ask to speak with someone about service expansion. Explain your address and what service you want. They will tell you whether expansion is planned, whether it is technically possible, and what it would cost.

In most cases, if lines do not exist in your area, Consumers Energy has no plan to build them. You would then need to explore alternatives — for heating, that might mean propane, oil, or a heat pump powered by electricity. For cooking or other gas needs, propane tanks are common in areas without natural gas lines.

Understanding your bill when you have both services

Look for two separate usage sections on your Consumers Energy bill. One will be labeled "Electric" or "Electricity" and show kilowatt-hours (kWh). The other will be labeled "Gas" or "Natural Gas" and show therms. Each has its own rate, so do not assume that using less of one fuel will lower your total bill by the same percentage.

Both sections will show delivery charges in addition to the cost of the fuel itself. These delivery charges cover the cost of maintaining the pipes and wires that bring fuel to your home. They are separate from the actual gas or electricity you consumed and do not change much month to month, even if your usage does.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I switch from gas to electric heating if Consumers Energy serves my area?

That is a choice you make about your home's equipment, not about which utility serves you. If both gas and electric lines reach your home, you can install an electric heat pump or keep a gas furnace — Consumers Energy will deliver whichever fuel you use. If only electric lines reach your home, you must use electricity for heating.

What if I move to a different address in Michigan?

Call Consumers Energy with your new address and they will tell you which services are available there. It may be different from your old address. You will need to set up new accounts for the services available at the new location.

Does Consumers Energy charge different rates for gas and electricity?

Yes. Natural gas and electricity are priced separately, and the rates are different. Electricity is measured in kilowatt-hours and gas in therms, so the per-unit cost looks different on your bill. Both rates can change, but they change independently of each other.

Can I get propane instead of natural gas from Consumers Energy?

No. Consumers Energy delivers only natural gas through underground pipes, not propane. If natural gas lines do not reach your home, you would need to contract with a separate propane company that delivers by truck and maintains a tank on your property.