Intro >> CONSUMERS ENERGY SAYS A NEW SUBSTATION IN WALKER WILL HELP REDUCE POWER OUTAGES IN THE AREA AND INCREASE CAPACITY New substation NEWS EIGHT'S KYLE MITCHELL EXPLAINS HOW IT COULD IMPROVE RELIABILITY. >> HIS 9.5 MILLION DOLLAR SUBSTATION WILL SERVE ABOUT 32,000 CUSTOMERS. CONSUMER SAYS IS PART OF A BROADER PLAN TO REDUCE THE SIZE AND DURATION OF OUTAGES. >> KEEPING MY CASKEY COOL RELAXING IN HIS GARAGE REQUIRES ELECTRICITY. WE'VE ONLY HAD ONE OUTAGE THIS YEAR AS LIVES JUST DOWN THE STREET FROM THE NEW SUBSTATION ON 4 MILE ROAD IN WALKER. OVER THE PAST 3 DECADES. HE SEEN THE AREA GROW ALONG WITH THE NEED FOR ELECTRICITY, PUTTING IN A NEW SUBDIVISION OF HOMES IN THE GRACE. WELL, GOLF COURSE. >> AND WE'VE SEEN A LOT DEVELOPMENT ON ON ALPINE FOR Consumers Energy STORES. THAT HOME ALL UP. THERE'S NEW SINCE WE CONSUMERS ENERGY SAYS THE NEW SUBSTATION WILL HELP KEEP THE LIGHTS ON FOR CUSTOMERS USING THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY WRITER MAXIMUM. >> AND THIS ALLOWS BUSINESSES TO GROW INDUSTRY TO GROW AND HOMES. THE SUBSTATION PROVIDES MORE REDUNDANCIES AND WAS GREATER REMOTE CONTROL. REDUCING THE NEED TO SEND A TECHNICIAN TO THE STATION TO TAKE CARE OF CERTAIN TASKS. >> UTILITIES ALSO INVESTING IN TREE TRIMMING AND PILOTING A PROGRAM TO BURY MORE POWER LINES. CONSUMERS, ENERGY RELIABILITY ROAD MAP INTRODUCED LAST YEAR HAS A GOAL OF RESTORING POWER WITHIN 24 HOURS. WE'RE INVESTING ACROSS THE STATE. 7 BILLION DOLLARS OVER THE NEXT 5 YEARS. AND UNRELIABILITY RELATED WORK TO PREVENT OUTAGES, TO MAKE THE GRID SMARTER AND STRONGER FOR THE FUTURE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION THE RIGHT PLACES. THE NEW CAPACITY WILL ATTRACT MORE BUSINESSES TO THE AREA WITHOUT THAT INFRASTRUCTURE. WE WE CAN'T GROW AS A COMMUNITY. AND IF YOU'RE NOT GROWING AS A COMMUNITY, YOU TEND TO STAGNATE AND. >> YOU KNOW, DEFINING CITIES ARE DIRT OFF THE PARKS DON'T GET REPAIRED IS OFTEN THE SCHOOLS CAN KEEP UP ON TECHNOLOGY AND IT SORT OF SNOWBALLS IN THE OTHER DIRECTION. CUSTOMERS LIKE MIKE ARE HOPING THE GENERATOR WON'T BE NEEDED AS MUCH BECAUSE OF THE UPGRADE MORE TIME ON THE ELECTRICITY. DON'T WORRY ABOUT REFRIGERATOR FREEZER. COOKING.