(1/31/2019) - Consumers Energy is asking residents and businesses to continue conserving natural gas all day Friday to avoid possible shutdowns.
Consumers Senior Public Information Director Roger Morganstern said on Thursday that the conservation efforts are making a difference 24 hours after they went into effect.
"This morning, we are cautiously optimistic that our public requests to reduce gas use are having a positive effect," he wrote in a statement.
However, the utility needs efforts to continue through the day Friday. Repairs are under way on the Ray facility and it partially returned to operation Thursday morning, but supplies remain tight.
Temperatures are expected to moderate late Friday, naturally reducing demand for natural gas.
The utility made the request for customers to turn down thermostats and take other conservation measures after a fire at its Ray Natural Gas Compressor Station in Macomb County caught fire Wednesday.
RELATED: Consumers Energy asks public to cut natural gas use after Detroit-area fire
The facility provides 64 percent of Consumers' natural gas supply. With it offline, the company warned it may not be able to meet demand for natural gas during the coldest weather in Mid-Michigan in 25 years.
An emergency alert was transmitted to cell phones late Wednesday and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer made a public plea to reduce gas usage.
General Motors shut down production at several Mid-Michigan plants Wednesday night and Thursday, including the Flint manufacturing and assembly complex, to help reduce energy use.
Consumers has activated its underground storage fields in Northville and St. Clair to supply more natural gas to Southeast Michigan. The company also is reaching out to external vendors to supplement natural gas supply.
Consumers Energy offered the following tips to cut natural gas consumption:
-- Consider lowing thermostats to 65 degrees when people are home and 62 degrees when nobody is home.
-- Businesses can reduce their workload for the day.
-- Seal windows and doors to keep out bitterly cold drafts from getting inside.