(1/30/2019) - Some Nexteer Automotive employees in Buena Vista Township got abnormally cold on the job Wednesday after Consumers Energy asked the plant to drastically reduce energy consumption.
Consumers made the same request of several other large energy customers during the coldest weather seen around Mid-Michigan in 25 years.
"We are part of a regional energy grid that covers 15 states and this morning they asked us and other companies to work with our customers to use a little bit less electricity to make sure there is enough supply to meet the demand across the state and the Midwest," said Brian Wheeler of Consumers Energy.
Energy usage is up during this cold snap that has hit the Midwest. Nexteer obliged to the request to cut usage, saying in a statement it shut down all office and test areas and the majority of manufacturing operations to achieve the energy reduction target.
But some people complained about workers who had to stay on the job in manufacturing areas that were very cold and wondered why the facility was open at all.
Nexteer released a second statement just before noon that said Consumers gave the company the go ahead to resume normal energy usage and that all manufacturing employees should report to work as scheduled.
Wheeler was not sure how many big energy users like Nexteer have this agreement with Consumers to lower energy usage during emergencies.
"They have a different rate than perhaps some other companies throughout the year, but then they agree on occasions that they will be able to reduce their energy usage to meet the greater good," he said.
The request to cut power usage is not made often, another indication of how unusual this weather has been for the past two days.
"When we have once-in-a-generation weather, we have to take steps to prepare," Wheeler said.