JACKSON, Mich., March 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers Energy is inviting companies to submit bids to participate in the start of a $500 million program to help Michigan residents and businesses use energy more efficiently and save on their energy bill. This is one of the largest energy efficiency efforts in the state's history and is expected to create hundreds of jobs. These positions would be in energy auditing, equipment installation and pickup, engineering, education, and administrative. In addition, numerous contractors are expected to add employees to install additional high efficiency electrical and mechanical upgrades that will be incented through the energy efficiency programs. These upgrades include such items as furnaces, air conditioning, lighting and hot water heaters. Consumers Energy filed its proposed six-year energy efficiency plan recently with the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC), to meet the requirements of the state's new energy law. Following MPSC approval, Consumers Energy expects to begin offering energy efficiency programs to customers in July. "Our aggressive energy efficiency programs effectively complement the State of Michigan's goals in this area. We're looking forward to partnering with companies to help create new jobs in Michigan. We also want to help our customers in utilizing energy in the most efficient way possible," said Wayne Lynn, Consumers Energy's executive manager of customer service. Consumers Energy will adopt best practices used in other states to successfully implement energy efficiency programs in Michigan. Consumers Energy's Request for Proposal (RFP) includes bid opportunities to implement programs in the following areas: business solutions; residential efficient products; residential comprehensive homes; residential appliance recycling; and grade 4-6 energy education. Contractors may choose to respond to one, several, or all of the RFP areas. To learn more about the Consumers Energy RFP, visit: http://client.summitblue.com/ConsumersEnergy Consumers Energy, the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy, provides natural gas and electricity to more than six million of the state's nearly 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, +1-517-788-2395, or Jeff Holyfield, +1-517-788-2394, both of Consumers Energy Web Site: http://www.consumersenergy.com/

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