Customer Use of Consumers Energy's Online Billing Sees Steady Growth in First Decade; Significant Green Benefits

JACKSON, Mich., Oct. 12  /PRNewswire/ -- The number of Consumers Energy customers choosing online billing has grown steadily in the first decade of that free service.  Today, nearly one in six residential customers -- about 400,000 -- use online billing, a number that's expected to grow dramatically in the near future.

"Online billing means real benefits for the environment," said Tom O'Masta, executive manager of customer operations for Consumers Energy.  "Customers who pay their bill online can take pride in the fact that their choice means fewer trees cut down, fewer gallons of gasoline being used, and a significant amount of greenhouse gases not emitted because of reduced need for printing and mailing bills.  Online customers are green customers."

"We're also pleased that online billing is fast becoming more of 'the norm' for customers.  The advantages of online billing are many.  It's free, safe and secure, and it saves each customer about $5 a year in postage," said O'Masta.

Consumers Energy first offered the option of electronic billing to customers in 1999.  The company was among the first utilities in the country to introduce a recurring online payment option through Visa.  Customer enrollment in the No-fee Monthly Visa option has increased by more than 11 percent so far this year.

"In addition to paying their bill online, customers can save time and money through a number of options available 24/7 at Consumers Energy's website," said O'Masta.

These options include: Reporting a power outage; receiving a service restoration estimate following a power outage; selecting or changing their payment method; setting up a payment schedule; reporting a payment or meter read; starting, transferring or stopping an electric or natural gas service; checking electric or gas rates; or tracking home energy use.

Information on how to begin paying your bills online is available at:  http://www.consumersenergy.com/

Consumers Energy, the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy, provides natural gas and electricity to nearly 6.5 million of Michigan's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.

For more information about Consumers Energy, visit our Website at http://www.consumersenergy.com/ 

DATASOURCE: Consumers Energy



CONTACT:  Dan Bishop, [phone], or Jeff Holyfield,

[phone], both of Consumers Energy



Web Site:  http://www.consumersenergy.com/ 

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