UPDATE:  Per Mid-Michigan NOW’s Courtney Bennett, Consumers Energy has decided to delay the planned power outage as temperatures dip below freezing.

JUST IN: @ConsumersEnergy is postponing the scheduled work for tonight. This was for a portion of Flint impacting 3,500 customers. @midmichigannow pic.twitter.com/LDzPQQzocS

— Courtney Bennett (@court_bennett11) December 6, 2024

Click here to get updates on the next planned power outage by signing up to Dave Bondy’s free newsletter.

Thousands of Flint area residents should prepare for a chilly night as Consumers Energy plans a major power outage for scheduled maintenance. The outage will impact approximately 3,500 customers starting at 11:55 p.m. Friday and is expected to last about six hours.

If maintenance cannot be completed Friday night, a second outage may take place at the same time on Saturday. However, Consumers Energy assures that any additional disruption would also not exceed six hours.

Click here to get BREAKING NEWS updates by signing up to Dave Bondy’s FREE newsletter now.

The planned outage is part of routine maintenance on the utility’s high-voltage distribution system. This proactive work aims to enhance the grid’s reliability and reduce the likelihood of future outages caused by equipment failure.

While Consumers Energy did not specify the exact locations affected, residents from Flint’s north side have reported receiving notices about the outage. Postcards informing customers were sent in late November to all homes and businesses involved.

Some residents have expressed concern about losing power during the colder winter nights. To reduce the impact, Consumers Energy scheduled the outage during late-night hours when most people are expected to be asleep. Residents in the affected areas are advised to bundle up and prepare for a temporary loss of electricity.