A powerful winter storm brought heavy snow, ice, and high winds across Michigan during the holiday week, impacting every Michigan cooperative service territory and causing widespread power outages. At the peak of the storm on Monday, Dec. 29, co-ops reported approximately 33,000 members without power statewide.

The Michigan Electric Cooperative Association and its member cooperatives mobilized local lineworkers, contractors, and mutual aid crews from across Michigan and beyond, working around the clock, to restore service as quickly and safely as possible.

Thanks to this coordinated response, power was restored to the vast majority of co-op members by New Year’s Day, reflecting the strength of cooperation within the electric cooperative network and its commitment to serving members when they need it most.

Daily restoration updates from this storm event are posted below.

Co-ops Aim to Finish Power Restoration Before the New Year

Michigan’s electric cooperative crews restored power to an additional 7,000 members through Wednesday morning, Dec. 31, which means power is mostly restored across Michigan’s electric cooperative service territory following damaging winter storms earlier this week.

As of 10 a.m. Wednesday, HomeWorks Tri-County Electric Cooperative (HomeWorks) reported approximately 1,827 outages, down from 4,761 the day before. In the Upper Peninsula, Alger Delta Cooperative Electric Association (Alger Delta) restored power to about 1,000 members over 24 hours and reported 622 outages remaining on Wednesday morning. Both cooperatives expect to complete restoration for the vast majority of affected members later Wednesday, allowing most to have power when they ring in the New Year.

Crews made significant progress over the past few days despite frigid temperatures, high winds and blowing snow, consistently restoring power since Monday when the storm knocked out power to 33,000 electric co-op members across Michigan.

HomeWorks continues to make strong progress and expects to have additional contract crews helping on Wednesday, which will further accelerate restoration efforts. Alger Delta crews are also working steadily to restore power across challenging terrain and winter conditions in the U.P.

“Thanks to improving weather conditions and an extraordinary effort from line workers, contractors and mutual aid crews, our teams are in the final stretch of power restoration work,” said John Kran, CEO of MECA. “As we close out the year, we’re incredibly grateful to the crews who have worked around the clock in challenging conditions to help ensure families can welcome the New Year safely and comfortably.”

23,000+ Restored as Co-op Crews Push Through Winter Storm

Michigan’s nonprofit, member-owned electric cooperatives have restored power to more than 23,000 members statewide despite frigid temperatures, high winds, and significant snowfall.

As of 10 a.m. EST Tuesday, Dec. 30, electric cooperatives reported approximately 10,000 remaining outages across their service territories—down from roughly 33,000 the previous day. That represents a reduction of more than 65% in just 24 hours. With weather conditions improving across much of the state, crews continue to make steady, meaningful progress on restoration efforts.

“The improving weather has allowed crews to work more efficiently and safely,” said John Kran, CEO of MECA. “While restoration work is ongoing, we’ve clearly turned a corner. Significant progress has been made, and our crews will continue working through the holidays and cold weather until all members have their power restored.”

Electric cooperatives across Michigan continue to coordinate mutual aid resources, including deploying lineworkers from other states where conditions allow. Members are reminded to stay clear of downed power lines and to report outages directly to their local electric cooperative. Restoration efforts will continue until all power is restored.

Michigan Co-ops Mobilize After Winter Storm Causes 33,000 Outages

Electric cooperatives across Michigan are working overtime to restore power following a massive winter storm that brought high winds, dangerous temperatures and large amounts of snow to many parts of the state, including the Upper Peninsula, according to the Michigan Electric Cooperative Association (MECA).

The state’s member-owned co-ops reported nearly 33,000 outages as of 10 a.m. EST on Monday, Dec. 29, following the massive storm. Great Lakes Energy (GLE) reported the highest total with 13,231 outages across western and northwestern Michigan. HomeWorks Tri-County Electric Cooperative (HWTC) had 7,524 outages across mid-Michigan on Monday.

In the U.P., co-op Alger Delta Cooperative Electric Association reported nearly 5,000 outages Monday afternoon. The co-op reported that crews are responding where conditions allow and noted that restoration efforts remain significantly delayed due to extreme safety hazards, including high winds, icy roadways and drifting snow.

When conditions allow, out-of-state crews from Wisconsin and even Indiana are joining a robust in-state effort to restore power.

“Michigan’s electric cooperatives are working diligently with mutual-aid partners from other states to restore service under winter conditions that include thick ice and high winds,” said John Kran, CEO of MECA. “Our nonprofit co-ops provide power to residents and businesses spread across some of the hardest hit areas of the U.P. and western Michigan and they’re working around the clock to get the power on for their members.”

Effective coordination with Michigan’s emergency operations system is helping direct assistance to the areas that need it the most, Kran said. Each of Michigan’s nine electric distribution co-ops are providing regular updates on their Facebook pages, including those that are the hardest hit:

• Alger-Delta Cooperative Electric Association
• Cherryland Electric Cooperative
• Cloverland Electric Cooperative
• Great Lakes Energy
• HomeWorks Tri-County Electric Cooperative
• Midwest Energy & Communications
• Ontonagon County REA
• Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op
• Thumb Electric Cooperative

Co-ops are urging members to stay clear of downed power lines and to report outages through official channels.